On the evening of May 16, 2025, at approximately 7:50 p.m., State Police responded to a serious vehicle collision on State Route 5 in the town of Elbridge, New York. The incident involved two vehicles—a 2021 Subaru Outback driven by Cornelia Bianco, 57, of Syracuse, and a 2017 Ford Explorer operated by Scotte Farrar, 58, of Weedsport. According to preliminary investigations, Bianco was traveling eastbound along State Route 5 when her vehicle struck Farrar’s Explorer. Reports indicate that Farrar’s vehicle had slowed in the left lane to turn into a parking lot when the collision occurred.
The impact set off a chain of dramatic events. The force of the collision caused Bianco’s Subaru to catch fire, and the vehicle soon became fully engulfed in flames. Remarkably, Bianco managed to exit her vehicle safely before the blaze intensified. Emergency responders from Jordan Ambulance arrived at the scene promptly and evaluated both drivers. Despite the severity of the accident and the intensity of the fire, neither driver sustained injuries serious enough to require hospital transport, as both declined further medical evaluation beyond the on-site assessment.
In addition to the physical damage and dramatic vehicle fire, the investigation also revealed a clear traffic violation. Cornelia Bianco received a traffic ticket for following too closely—a reminder of the crucial importance of maintaining safe distances on busy and rural roadways alike. Authorities stress that incidents like this underscore the risk factors inherent on roads such as State Route 5, where careful attention and adherence to safety protocols can help prevent such dangerous outcomes.
Local officials, along with the New York State Police, urge drivers to remain vigilant, particularly in areas with varying road conditions and evolving traffic patterns. This incident has ignited discussions on traffic safety and regenerative measures to reduce rear-end collisions and the consequent hazards of post-collision fires.
