Police say trooper, another person hurt in intersection crash

TIMES STAFF AND JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS REPORTS

MASSENA — A state trooper was responding downtown Wednesday to assist village police in the foot pursuit of a teenager wanted on a bench warrant when his SUV collided with a car at routes 420 and 37.

The patrol vehicle reportedly was being operated by Trooper Jon White and was northbound on Route 420, also known as South Main Street.

The intersection is three blocks from the area where village police and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents were pursuing the teenager, who had bolted from police after being told he was being arrested on the warrant and a charge of criminal possession of stolen property.

Two people, including the state trooper, suffered minor injuries in the accident, which occurred about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Both were taken to Massena Memorial Hospital for treatment. State police did not release the names of either driver Wednesday night.

Police were at the scene for more than four hours reconstructing the accident, while the Massena Fire Department directed traffic away from the busy intersection.

"It was an intersection accident; the trooper was on his way to a call and struck another vehicle in the intersection," Sgt. Scott A. Rogers said. "It's under investigation."

After the accident, the trooper's SUV was in the center of the westbound lanes of Route 37 with its front end smashed in. The other car, a BMW 318i convertible, was across the street in the ditch next to McDonald's, with damage to the driver's-side panel.

"What scares me is I came through that intersection not two minutes prior," said Kristine R. Stevens, Massena, a witness at the scene. "Everyone's saying he was driving 60, 65, when he was coming through. People said he was in high-speed-chase mode."

There was no alcohol involved in the accident, according to Sgt. Rogers.

Trooper White reportedly was responding to assist village police after Jonathan R. Gurrola, 19, of 454 County Route 48, Norwood, fled after being advised he was under arrest.

Mr. Gurrola was wanted on a bench warrant signed by Norfolk Town Justice George C. Grubee for an alleged violation of his probationary supervision.

He was arraigned by acting Village Justice James M. Crandall and sent to St. Lawrence County jail, Canton, with bail set at $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond.

He had been released under the supervision of the Probation Department on Aug. 31 after being charged with two counts of second-degree aggravated harassment. He was placed under electronic home monitoring a day later.

Probation officials allege he left his residence without permission Oct. 20, cut off his electronic home monitoring bracelet and told police he was going to Syracuse.

Village police came into contact with Mr. Gurrola on Thursday afternoon when they were investigating a complaint that he had stolen a cell phone from Lisa A. Deshane, 32, during a Halloween party Oct. 31 at her residence, 14 Grinnell Ave. Ms. Deshane directed police to the library, where she said she believed Mr. Gurrola was.

Police said Mr. Gurrola ran out of the library and crossed into the municipal parking lot, with a village police officer in pursuit. He then ran south on Main Street and west on West Orvis Street before he entered the Quality Inn hotel and briefly was able to evade the police officer.

He then was observed running on East Orvis Street and attempting to get a ride from Lucky's Taxi Service.