Friday crash that snarled Wakefield St. traffic likely caused by medical issue: police

Harrison Thorp 11:24 a.m.


Friday crash that snarled Wakefield St. traffic likely caused by medical issue: police

City Police and Fire at scene of Friday crash on Wakefield Street (Corinna Cole photo)

ROCHESTER - The accident that snagged Milton Road traffic for more than six hours on Friday is thought to have been caused when an elderly man driving a pickup had a medical issue and crashed into a utility pole at the intersection of Wakefield Street and Milton and Chestnut Hill roads, police say.

According to Rochester Police Capt. Todd Pinkham, the single vehicle accident occurred as the vehicle was traveling east on Chestnut Hill Road by Wendy's, went through the Wakefield Street intersection and struck the utility pole outside Jay's Discount.

Pinkham said the 72-year-old operator appeared to be having a medical issue behind the wheel.

No other injuries were reported.

The crash occurred a little before 5 p.m.

By 6 p.m. police had shut down Milton Road in the area of the Lilac Mall completely.

Motorists headed north around 10:30 p.m. reported that traffic was being directed through a series of traffic cones as utility work continued late into the night.