2 construction workers hospitalized after vehicle crashes in Niagara County

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — One construction worker was taken to ECMC by Mercy Flight and another was transported to the hospital by ambulance after a vehicle went off the road Thursday in the Town of Royalton, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office announced.

A 2013 Chrysler sedan, driven by 59-year-old Darrin Moreland of Middleport, was traveling westbound on State Road just before 2:30 p.m. when it moved into the north road shoulder, where a water tanker truck was parked. Moreland struck the right rear corner of the truck before striking a construction worker, 24-year-old Zachary Brown of Newfane, who was seated on the grass next to the truck, according to officials.

Brown was transported to ECMC by Mercy Flight for neck and back injuries.

After striking Brown, the sedan then made contact with a pump trailer also parked on the grass. Officials said another construction worker, 23-year-old Sheldon Gardner of Little Genesee, who standing on the trailer, was knocked into the floorboard on impact.

The sedan eventually came to rest wedged between the truck and the trailer.

Gardner was transported to ECMC by ambulance for similar neck and back complaints and Moreland was uninjured.

An investigation into the crash is ongoing.

Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University.