Crash Near Great Northern Mall Kills Martville Man

Submitted by the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department

Onondaga County Sheriff Kevin E. Walsh reports that deputies are investigating a two car crash that claimed one life.

At approximately 2:40 pm, Town of Clay Police and Onondaga County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to Route 481, just north of Route 31, on a reported rollover crash. A 2007 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, operated by Jack Baker (54), of Sterling, New York, was struck by a 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier, operated by James Sada (85), of 2114 Grant Boulevard.

Deputies investigating the crash report that Baker was traveling north on Route 481 and was driving in the right lane when he was struck by Sada’s car. Witnesses told Deputies that Sada was also traveling north on Route 481, driving in the passing lane when he apparently lost control of his vehicle and drove onto the shoulder of the roadway.

Appearing to have overcompensated for driving off the roadway, Sada crossed back into his lane and proceeded to cross into the right lane when his vehicle made contact with the rear tire of Baker’s pickup truck. The contact with Baker’s tire put both vehicles into a spin, sending them in opposite directions. Baker’s vehicle rolled several times into the median and came to rest in an overturned position. Sada’s vehicle traveled down and embankment off the shoulder of the road and came to rest on the passenger’s side of the car.

Although shaken up, Sada escaped without injury. Rescue crews from the Moyers Corners Fire Department raced to free Baker and his wife Deborah Somers-Baker (52), who were both trapped beneath the wreckage. Jack was pronounced dead at the scene, while Menter Ambulance Service rushed Deborah to University Hospital.

Members of the Sheriff’s Accident Investigation Team were called to the scene to conduct a complete investigation. Several witnesses were interviewed and Investigators will rely on accident reconstruction to determine the cause of the crash. No tickets have been issued at this time.

All Traffic on Route 481 was shut down between Phoenix and Route 31 while Sheriff’s Accident Investigation Technicians processed the scene. Members of the New York State Department of Transportation assisted with traffic diversion.

Print this entry