Geneseo Police have ticketed a truck driver following a crash that severely damaged the village’s iconic Bear Fountain early Thursday morning.
According to police, Gordon Gay, 49, of Rochester, was issued a citation for failure to keep right of a traffic island after his truck struck the fountain at an estimated speed of 24 miles per hour.
Geneseo Police Chief Eric Osganian said the incident was determined to be an accident following a thorough investigation.
“At the end of the day, an accident is an accident,” Osganian said. “The driver stated that strong winds pushed the truck to the right and he overcorrected to the left. There was no evidence of intoxication, and phone records show he was not using his phone at the time.”
Police also reviewed data from the truck’s onboard recording system, which indicated a speed between 23 and 24 miles per hour at the time of impact. Investigators noted there was no indication the driver applied the brakes before the collision.
The crash occurred at approximately 6:07 a.m. The impact knocked the fountain’s granite bowl from its foundation, toppled the pedestal, and sent the bronze bear statue, known as Emmeline, into a cavity beneath the structure.
Gay sustained bruising to his ribs and was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital, where he was treated and later released.
“A semi-truck carries significant weight,” Osganian said. “The fountain, while made of granite, was resting on its foundation. The force of the truck was enough to move it.”
Restoration plans are already underway. The Association for the Preservation of Geneseo is working with Moorland Studios, a nationally recognized monument restoration firm, to repair the historic fountain. The organization maintains detailed 3D documentation of the fountain, created during earlier restoration work, which will aid in the reconstruction process.
Funding for the restoration will come in part from a community-established trust fund designated for the Bear Fountain and from insurance coverage provided by Upstate Niagara Cooperative Inc., the owner of the truck.
While repairs are pending, the village has installed a temporary lamp in the damaged fountain bowl. Officials noted that the lamp’s low profile is the least visually prominent lighting feature the fountain has displayed since 1888.
