Two-car accident sends eight to hospital

A Thursday morning crash on Route 31near the VVS high school hospitalized eight people.

VERONA » More details have been released in the two-car vehicle crash that injured at least eight people near Vernon-VeronaSherrill High School on Thursday.

Oneida County sheriff’s deputies say that around 8:20 a.m., 61-year-old Murithi Mudey of Utica was traveling north on Route 31 in the area of VVS high school when he lost control of his 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer and started to veer into the southbound lane.

At that time, Sherri Card, 46, of Rome, was traveling south on Route 31 in a 2014 Ford Focus. Police say her vehicle t-boned Mudey’s, causing it to roll several times before coming to rest on its side..

Mudey’s vehicle was occupied by seven passengers, all of Utica : Hawa Abukar, 44; Amina Osman, 32; Arbay Sabow, 50; Di Di, 37; Isho Arbow, 44; Bishara Mohamed, 32 and Haji Adan, 46.

Witnesses reported several occupants trapped inside the vehicle and stood by until rescue crews arrived.

All occupants of Mudey’s vehicle and Card were transported to Oneida Healthcare and St. Eliz- abeth’s Hospital in Utica with injuries ranging from minor to serious. Police say Card suffered injuries to her back, leg and pelvis.

A VVS school district administrator said the accident a half mile from the high school didn’t involve any buses, students or staff.

Sheriff deputies were assisted on scene by state police, Verona Fire Department, COVAC and Vineall ambulance.

Mudey was ticketed for failure to keep right.

Route 31 was closed off by Oneida Nation Police due to the accident, but later reopened.

Both vehicles were destroyed in the collision.