Two months after a high-speed crash at a Batavia, N.Y., intersection sent eight vehicles into a chain reaction and left one car engulfed in flames, the driver police say caused it has been arrested. He’s also one of the people the crash nearly killed.
Police say the driver ran a red light at speed on a Monday morning in March, struck a vehicle moving legally through the intersection and set off a pileup that damaged eight vehicles. His own car ended up catching fire with him still inside.
He was pulled out, flown to a Rochester hospital, and survived. But that was just the beginning of the story, as months later, things have shifted even further for the man and his alleged reckless driving.
With Wednesday’s arraignment, Christopher J. Parker now faces felony charges that reflect what police say his driving did to seven other vehicles and the people inside them. That’s instead of what nearly happened to him.
What Happened According to Police
The crash happened at about 7:41 a.m. on March 23 at the intersection of West Main Street and Oak Street, Batavia police said. Parker, 36, was driving a white sedan eastbound on West Main at a high rate of speed when he ran the red light at Oak.
Parker then struck a vehicle traveling northbound through the intersection. The impact set off a chain reaction, where his sedan ended up hitting additional westbound vehicles waiting at the light. Eight vehicles were damaged in all.
A Fiery Rescue
Parker’s car went up in flames with him still trapped inside. Batavia Police Sergeant Kevin DeFelice arrived within 40 seconds of the initial call and, along with other first responders and bystanders, pulled Parker out.
Bystanders fought the flames before City of Batavia firefighters arrived. Parker was then flown by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester with life-threatening injuries. Two others involved in the crash were subsequently taken to local hospitals.
Where the Case Currently Stands
Parker has been charged with first-degree assault and first-degree reckless endangerment. Both crimes are actually felonies under New York law. He was also ticketed for speed not reasonable and prudent, passing through a red light, no seatbelt, and failure to keep right and moving from lane unsafely.
Parker was arraigned at Batavia City Court on Wednesday. He was finally released to pre-trial supervision under Genesee Justice, with a next court date of June 16. We’ll provide an update with additional info after the date passes.