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CANAAN, NY - A two vehicle accident sent four people to area hospitals on Friday, September 25, 2009. The accident occurred at the intersection of Route 295 and Route 22 in the Town of Canaan.

Columbia County 911 dispatched Lebanon Valley Rescue and Canaan Firefighters at 8:41 p.m. 911 reported entrapment and one of the vehicles on fire. When units arrived there was no fire.

According to the Columbia County Sheriff's Department, a 2008 Pontiac Vibe being operated by 17-year-old Lars Haas on New Lebanon was northbound on Route 22 and ran the red light. The Vibe struck a 2001 GMC pickup operated by 72-year-old Robert Meehan of Chatham who was westbound on Route 295. It appears Mr. Meehan was ejected.

The vehicles ended up out of the roadway and in the lot of the Bar-Ken Service Station. Both vehicles appeared to have struck parked vehicles.

Haas and his two passengers, 17-year-old Alesha Odell of Old Chatham and 16-year-old Michael Hotaling of East Nassau had to be extricated from the vehicle by firefighters using the jaws. All three were transported to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA.

Mr. Meehan was airlifted by LifeNet 71 to Albany Medical Center in Albany, NY. The landing zone was just south of the accident scene in front of Mep's BBQ on Route 22.

Canaan firefighters were assisted by East Chatham and Lebanon Valley firefighters.

Ambulances from Lebanon Valley, Chatham Rescue and County Ambulance were on the scene.

The New York State Police assisted at the scene.

Canaan fire units cleared the scene at 1:32 a.m. Saturday morning.

Additional photos are on www.ColumbiaPage.com.