A Friday night varsity football game between Clyde-Savannah and Palmyra-Macedon ended with fights involving players and others, prompting a large police and emergency medical response and the evacuation of the field area.
Clyde police said officers were alerted around 9:20 p.m. Friday to a large fight involving players from both teams. School officials eventually stopped the initial fighting, but police said additional arguments, fights and injuries were reported as officers worked to clear the area.
New York State Police and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office were called to assist, and police said law enforcement encountered both verbal and physical resistance while moving people away from the field.
The Clyde Fire Department, which had been providing dedicated fire and EMS coverage for the game, said its personnel were alerted to reports of multiple people who may have been injured or down.
Fire and EMS crews began triage and patient assessments, while multiple ambulances and Mercy Flight were requested to the scene.
The department described the scene as chaotic, with several agencies working together to provide medical care and manage the area.
Two students transported, districts say injuries were unrelated to altercation
Clyde-Savannah and Palmyra-Macedon school officials said Saturday that two students were transported to medical facilities, including one by Mercy Flight.
The districts said, however, that neither transport was related to the on-field altercation.
“At this time, there are no reports of students or attendees who required transportation to medical facilities due to the altercation,” the districts said in a joint statement.
The statement said both districts were working with law enforcement and Section V officials to review the incident and gather additional information.
A family member of the student who was flown to Strong Memorial Hospital said in a public Facebook comment that the student was injured before the fights began and was not involved in them. She said he suffered a concussion, numbness and bruised muscles and was later released from the hospital.
Her account also called for further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the injury. Those claims have not been independently confirmed.
Police seek additional information
Clyde police said officers continued dealing with arguments and fights even after the initial confrontation between players was stopped.
The department said officers, deputies, EMS personnel and Mercy Flight crews provided assistance to injured people at the scene while law enforcement and school officials cleared the field area.
The fire department said it would not release additional details about the injuries or the specific medical services provided.
The joint district statement said anyone found to have violated school policies or athletic codes of conduct could face disciplinary action under existing procedures.
District officials also condemned physical aggression, intimidation and disrespectful behavior by players, spectators or others attending school athletic events.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Clyde Police Department at 315-923-3121.
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