Cops Ticket Rush Driver for Bear Fountain Crash

UPDATE: WATCH: Pickup Strikes Bear Fountain in Front of Police

GENESEO – The Geneseo Police Department ticketed the driver who crashed into the bear fountain Sunday night.

According to an accident report released by Geneseo Police Chief Eric Osganian, Paul Stevenson, 62, was ticketed for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device, a violation. Stevenson, of Rush, struck the fountain while headed north on Main Street and veered into the front of 70 Main Street at about 9:01 p.m.

“So we heard a ‘skirt’ and then I see this car kind of stop but kind of turn and then literally just accelerate into Village Cafe,” said Carolien Mossel, 21, who saw the accident from a nearby apartment. “There was a crash and a spin. The guy kind of just stepped out and sat on the bench.”

Stevenson was not injured.

After the accident, Geneseo Police and Geneseo Fire and Ambulance were at the scene immediately. The bear fountain showed yet more damage on its already ruined south-facing side, and officials inspected 70 Main Street as a precaution.

“v1 [vehicle 1] was traveling north on main street when the driver struck the center fountain traffic circle causing damage to the fountain and the front end of the truck,” reads the accident report released by Geneseo Police. “The vehicle then accelerated left around the fountain straight into the village cafe causing exterior and interior damage. photos of the scene were secured by ofc goulet. operator of the vehicle was uninjured.”

A tractor trailer struck and ruined the 1888 granite water basin in April 2016, after which the Village installed small reflective strips at its base. The Association for the Preservation of Geneseo is currently working on a full restoration project with Moorland Studios, which Village Mayor Richard Hatheway said is expected to be complete in the summer of 2017.