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Motor Vehicle Accident

Van Reported Off Road With Airbags Deployed

Rutland Fire was dispatched to a reported motor vehicle accident involving a van off the roadway in the Rutland area. The dispatch advised unknown injuries and airbag deployment.

Closed Apr 7, 2026 u{009377} 5:29 PM Rutland Fire
29363 NY-12, Watertown, NY 13601

Incident Report

Rutland Fire responded to a major motor vehicle accident at 29363 State Route 12 in Watertown at 5:29 p.m. Tuesday after a van was reported off the roadway with airbags deployed and injuries initially unknown. Early updates indicated the occupant was out of the vehicle before crews arrived.

Within minutes, responders reported the van was upright in a field roughly 60 to 150 feet off the road, and the driver said there were no injuries. As additional units arrived, the response shifted to scene safety and traffic management along Route 12. One lane was shut down toward Copenhagen, and Rutland Fire coordinated traffic control near Churchill Road and Bass Road while units were repositioned around the crash scene. Radio traffic later indicated a dump truck was also involved, prompting questions about towing and extending the roadway operation.

Crews remained on scene for more than an hour as they held traffic and waited for the dump truck to be removed from the roadway. By 6:49 p.m., the scene was winding down, and moments later the dump truck cleared. Route 12 was reopened at about 6:50 p.m., and command returned the scene to law enforcement before units cleared after an 81-minute response.

Dispatch Audio

Initial 5:29:28 PM

Van Reported Off Road With Airbags Deployed

View Transcript
Rutland fire, respond 29363, State Route 12. Blue van off the road. Unknown injuries. There was airbag deployment. Repeating for Rutland fire, respond 29363, State Route 12 for a blow van off the roadway. Unknown injuries or his airbag deployment.

Rutland Fire

Location

Incident Timeline (16 events)

1
Van Reported Off Road With Airbags Deployed 5:29:28 PM

Rutland Fire was dispatched to a reported motor vehicle accident involving a van off the roadway in the Rutland area. The dispatch advised unknown injuries and airbag deployment.

Rutland fire, respond 29363, State Route 12. Blue van off the road. Unknown injuries. There was airbag deployment. Repeating for Rutland fire, respond 29363, State Route 12 for a blow van off the roadway. Unknown injuries or his airbag deployment.
2
Occupant out, injuries still unknown 5:29:57 PM

Dispatch relayed a blue van off the road with one occupant out of the vehicle. Airbags deployed and injuries are still unknown.

5:29:57 PM JE Dispatch Copy. A blue van. One subject is out of the vehicle. He said airbags deployed. Still unknown injury.
5:30:01 PM NYSP 3D12 Got it.
3
Van upright in field, no injuries 5:36:15 PM

Unit on scene reports the van is upright about 150 feet into a field, with the truck parked on the right side of the road. Driver says he is not injured.

5:36:15 PM JE 39-P24 Hey, so I'm here on scene. You'll see my truck on the right-hand side of the road. Driver is stating no injuries. He feels okay. He's about 150 feet down into the field. Vehicle is standing upright.
5:36:35 PM JE 39-P24 So we're about a little bit over three-quarters of a mile from 161.
4
Crew gearing up, units still arriving 5:36:20 PM

Incoming unit advised they need to gear up, with another unit reporting they are a couple minutes out.

5:36:20 PM JE 39-1-2 I have to gear up, I've asked for it, correct?
5:36:43 PM JE 39-1-2 Racing is just a couple of minutes.
5
One lane shut down for crash 5:40:32 PM

Traffic control requested at Churchill Road with one lane shut down toward Copenhagen.

5:40:09 PM JE 39-P24 3913, can you go to roll and option?
5:40:21 PM JE 39-1-3 3913 on
5:40:32 PM JE 39-P24 Go ahead and stage in the one lane going towards Copenhagen down by Churchill Road and just slow traffic up. We're down the one lane.
5:40:37 PM JE 39-1-3 Copy that.
6
Trooper checks for fire/EMS response 5:40:50 PM

Trooper asked dispatch to confirm whether fire or EMS was responding to the crash scene.

5:40:50 PM NYSP 3D18 Just confirming either fire or EMS around scene.
5:40:58 PM JE Dispatch Stay around, Tina. You can just record.
5:41:01 PM NYSP 3D18 Yeah.
7
Traffic being directed around crash 5:45:39 PM

Rutland units report traffic will need to be directed at the crash scene, with vehicles being sent into the opposite lane.

5:45:29 PM JE 39-1-3 And they did copy you wonky on the other back in the other lane
5:45:39 PM JE 39-P25 That's affirmative. Go in the other lane. We're going to have to do direct traffic here.
8
Dump truck also involved in crash 5:45:41 PM

Trooper reports a dump truck is also involved in the crash and begins relaying commercial vehicle information. Dispatch asks if a tow will be needed for that vehicle as well.

5:45:41 PM NYSP Shield 0077 Copy. There's going to be a dump truck involved in this as well. I'll have another New York State when you're ready.
5:45:46 PM JE Dispatch Okay, go ahead.
5:45:53 PM NYSP Shield 0077 New York Commercial 96404 Norboy.
5:45:56 PM JE Dispatch Will you need a tow for him as well?
9
Traffic control set near Bass Road 5:46:10 PM

Traffic control is being set up near Bass Road, with units slowing vehicles and coordinating flow around the crash scene.

5:46:10 PM JE 39-P25 3096, can you stop just shy of the Bass Road and slow traffic down?
5:46:29 PM JE 39-P25 Whatever cars you got down there, I'm slowing them down. I'm letting some through.
5:46:54 PM JE 39-P25 3913, 3961, you guys will be in communication for traffic control.
10
One vehicle confirmed at crash 5:48:23 PM

Rutland units report one vehicle at the crash scene and will coordinate traffic control with 39-6-1.

5:48:08 PM JE 39-P29 We're on engine three on ops.
5:48:17 PM JE 39-P25 I don't know if you copied my last, but you're going to be in communication with 3961 for traffic control.
5:48:23 PM JE 39-P29 Copy that. I've got one vehicle here.
11
Responder arrives at Rutland crash 6:17:36 PM

Terry Groff is on scene for the Rutland crash.

6:17:32 PM JE Dispatch Jefferson on for Rutland.
6:17:36 PM JE 39-P25 You can mark Terry Groff on scene.
6:17:40 PM JE Dispatch 1817
12
Units holding for truck removal 6:32:45 PM

Units are holding the scene until a dump truck is moved out of the roadway, then remaining traffic control can be handled locally.

6:32:45 PM JE 39-P25 Seeing that they're doing roadside service on that truck, we're going to try to stay here until that dump truck's out of the road. After that, I think Ralph can handle it.
13
Crash scene nearing clearance 6:49:11 PM

Scene is wrapping up; units can clear once the dump truck and pickup are moved.

6:49:11 PM JE 39-P25 Soon as that dump truck and that pickup clears you guys can clear the scene
14
Dump truck clearing crash scene 6:49:16 PM

Dump truck is clearing the scene.

6:49:16 PM JE 39-P29 Okay, copy that. Dump truck is clearing the scene.
15
Route 12 reopened, command clearing 6:50:05 PM

Route 12 reopened and command is returning to service after turning the scene over to law enforcement.

6:49:55 PM JE 39-P25 Jefferson, round of command.
6:49:58 PM JE Dispatch Hauling commands.
6:50:05 PM JE 39-P25 Scene's been turned over to Grouse on scene. You can show Route 12 reopened, running, returning to service.
16
Road reopening at crash scene 6:50:54 PM

Road is being reopened at the crash scene.

6:50:54 PM JE 39-P29 I believe we're opening the road.
6:50:59 PM JE 39-P17 It's all good to me.
6:51:02 PM JE 39-P29 Thank you, sir. Have a good evening
6:51:07 PM JE 39-P17 You too.
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