Man Loses Consciousness While Driving In New Hartford

The accident happened when John Zimecki had a medical issue while driving causing him to lose consciousness, police said. His passenger, Sandy Nicolaus, took the wheel and tried to steer the car. As they approached a stoplight, Zimecki regained consciousness, took the wheel back, swerved to avoid hitting stopped cars at a stoplight, but collided with a vehicle on the Rt. 840 ramp to Commercial Drive. That impact caused the hit car to hit another.

Police say Zimecki and Nicolaus were sent to St. Elizabeth's Medical Center. The people in the car that Zimecki's car hit had to be extricated with the Jaws of Life and also  sent to St. E's. The driver and the passenger of the third vehicle in the crash were uninjured.