Funerals begin as lone survivor is released from hospital in quadruple fatal crash in Allegany County

The lone survivor in a vehicle crash that killed four of her friends July 27th in the Allegany County town of Burns has been discharged from Strong Memorial Hospital. As 16-year-old Kelsi A. Bird of Dansville recovers at home, funerals began today for the deceased. State Police said Bird suffered a broken leg and rib. She was a front seat passenger in the SUV and the only occupant protected by a seatbelt.

The operator, Rebecca L. Earner, 16 of Dansville, NY and the other three occupants, Ambra E. Eddleton, 16, Justin D. Carpenter, 14 and Kyrstin L. Wolfanger, 14 all of Dansville, NY, were pronounced dead at the scene at the intersection of County Routes 13 and 13C. Troopers listed the primary cause of the crash as driver inexperience, coupled with speed and foggy conditions. Investigators said the driver never applied the brake before the vehicle passed through an intersection and slammed into a tree. It was described as one of the worst fatal crashes ever in Allegany County, based on the ages.