3 hospitalized in overnight crash involving wrong-way driver on Route 5

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Three people were injured in a two-vehicle crash involving a wrong-way driver early Sunday morning on Route 5 heading toward the Skyway, Buffalo police officials said.

A vehicle being driven by a 39-year-old male was traveling the wrong way around 12:45 a.m. on Route 5 near Ohio Street when it crashed head-on into another vehicle, according to police. The vehicle that was struck rolled over and landed on its roof.

The driver of the wrong-way vehicle was taken to ECMC to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries, police said. His 4-year-old son was also in the vehicle, and the boy was transported to Oishei Children’s Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

A 48-year-old Blasdell woman was driving the vehicle that was struck and rolled over, according to police. She was also taken to ECMC to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Route 5 eastbound beyond Tifft Street was closed as a result of the crash for just under four hours Sunday morning, according to NITTEC. It reopened just before 4:30 a.m.

The crash is at least the third in the vicinity of the inbound Skyway and Ohio Street in four days, as a five-vehicle crash backed traffic up on Route 5 Saturday afternoon while a motorcyclist died after striking a pole on the 400 block of Ohio on Thursday evening.

The crash remains under investigation and no charges have been filed at this time.

Adam Gorski is a Buffalo native who joined the WIVB News 4 team in 2022. You can find more of his work here .