All lanes of Route 79 reopened shortly after 2 p.m. Thursday following a two-vehicle crash that closed the state highway for more than six hours between Slaterville Springs and Richford.
The collision was reported just before 7 a.m. in the 3300 block of Slaterville Road. A 511NY alert issued at 7:49 a.m. said the highway was closed in both directions.
Slaterville Volunteer Fire Company was dispatched with Bangs Ambulance and Tompkins County EMS at 6:58 a.m. Dispatchers requested additional crews from Brooktondale Fire & Rescue and Varna Fire & Rescue in the minutes that followed to assist with entrapment.
About a half hour after the initial dispatch, Dryden Fire Department's battery-powered rescue tools were sent to the scene.
“We are thankful for mutual aid help from Brooktondale, Varna, and Dryden Fire Companies and to law enforcement and our 911 dispatchers, along with Bangs Ambulance and County EMS,” Slaterville Volunteer Fire Company said in a statement Thursday afternoon. “Such teamwork is the hallmark of quality pre-hospital patient care.”
Officials have not released the number of people involved or the severity of any injuries.
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