The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Flooding strands motorists on Route 12
UTICA, N.Y. >> A storm on Saturday left several motorists stranded on Route 12 in Utica after roads started flooding.
On Saturday, Aug. 17, at around 3:45 p.m., New York State Trooper Joseph P. Lomonico was on routine patrol traveling northbound on Route 12 when he noticed traffic stopped just north of the Noyes Street intersection.
Police say Lomonico then approached the stopped traffic from the right shoulder until he could observe the northbound lanes of the NorthSouth Arterial completely flooded to the top of the concrete barrier.
Police say Lomonico located nine vehicles stranded in the passing lane of northbound State Route 12 and three vehicles completely submerged. Lomonico waded through the water to check on each operator of the vehicles, before rescuing two of the five drivers. Police say Lomonico, alongside NYSDOT worker Kevin O. Kalk, assisted the other three submerged vehicle occupants out of their vehicles by the Court Street exit ramp.
Troopers worked with NYSDOT officials, and Sergeant Christopher Fanigula of the Utica Police Department with the closure of State Route 12 in both directions until the water could recede. No injuries were reported at the scene.
Sen. Joseph Griffo, R- 47, sent a letter to the New York State Department of Transportation Monday, urging the DOT to undergo a thorough and complete analysis of the f looding issues that have affected parts of the North-South Arterial in Utica.
“While I am aware that weather conditions are changing more rapidly, the flooding situation that we have seen impact the Arterial on several occasions following the completion of a $66.5 million reconstruction project is unacceptable and poses a serious safety concern for motorists, neighbors and first responders,” Griffo said in his letter. “It is imperative that this analysis include recommendations that can be taken to prevent this type of flooding from occurring in the future. Further, you should consider making the findings of this examination public.”