Two people, including one former Cornell professor, died in a two-car collision Wednesday on Route 13 in Newfield, N.Y. One person was also critically injured.
At about 3:40 p.m., Pamela Klemme, who was driving southbound, collided with a northbound car driven by Prof. Emeritus Seymour Smidt, economics and finance, and carrying Prof. Emeritus Ruth Schwartz, nutritional sciences, according to a New York State Police report. Klemme, 56, a Syracuse resident, and Schwartz, 87, were transported to Cayuga Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead, according to the report.
Smidt, 83, was airlifted to Cayuga Medical Center and treated for internal injuries, according to the report. Later, he was airlifted from the medical center to Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, Pa., for further treatment. As of Thursday evening, Smidt was listed as being in serious condition, according to the report.
The University could not confirm the status of Smidt or Schwartz on Thursday evening. Both are retired professors, according to Cornell’s website.
A state accident reconstruction team investigated the scene of the collision Wednesday, according to the report. Police are still determining the cause of the accident.
Original Author: Akane Otani