Richfield Springs Troopers respond to serious crash in Exeter

Press Release

On August 23, 2024 at approximately 1:23 p.m., New York State Police at Richfield Springs and numerous fire personnel and EMS responded to the area of County Road 23 and Wing Hill Road in the town of Exeter for a two vehicle crash.

A preliminary investigation at the scene determined that a four door sedan was on County Road 23 making a left turn on a sharp curve onto Wing Hill Road when the driver did not see an SUV traveling on County Road 23 from the opposite direction. The two vehicles collided and the four door sedan caught on fire, which subsequently caused the SUV to catch on fire. A passerby with a fire extinguisher assisted in getting a family out of the sedan and another person assisted the driver of the SUV out of their vehicle.

Three LifeNet helicopters responded to the area.

Four people from the four door sedan were transported to hospitals:

• A 6-year-old male was transported by helicopter to Upstate Medical Center with serious injuries.
• A 7-year-old female was transported by helicopter to Albany Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
• The driver, Nicole C. Rinaldo, age of Ilion, NY was transported to Bassett Medical Center by ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries.
• A 6-year-old male was transported by ambulance to Bassett Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the SUV, Michael Salon, age 52 of Herkimer, NY was transported by helicopter to Albany Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

Fire agencies and EMS that assisted at the scene included: LifeNet, Middlefield, Richfield Springs, Otsego County EMS, Otsego County Emergency Services, Schuyler Lake and West Exeter.