The Seneca County Sheriff Office reports Sheriff’s Deputies and Investigators responded to a motor vehicle accident that resulted in fatal injuries to a passenger on State Route 96 in the Town of Romulus on 01/08/19 at 4:35 pm. The incident occurred when a 2005 box truck driven by Merlin R. Horst age 35 of 5570 McDuffie Town Rd Romulus, NY was traveling north bound on State Route 96, left the east side of the roadway, and overturned into a ditch. At this point, it is unclear why the vehicle left the roadway. Horst was treated at the scene by South Seneca Ambulance and refused any further medical treatment. The sole passenger, Enos S. Hertzler, age 19, of 2539 Vineyard Rd, Romulus, NY, sustained fatal injuries as a result of the accident and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Also assisting at the scene was the NYSP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, NYS DEC, South Seneca Ambulance, Life Net, Romulus Fire, Varick Fire, Ovid Fire and Fayette Fire Departments. Investigators are working closely with the Sheriff’s Office Accident Reconstruction Unit as the accident remains under investigation. Drugs and alcohol do not appear to be a factor.
Seneca County
Sheriff
New York