WARSAW, New York — A tractor-trailer crash that closed part of West Buffalo Street on Friday afternoon turned into an unexpected community effort to help those in need after the wreck’s spilled cargo was donated to local food pantries.

Around 3:30 p.m., emergency crews — including Warsaw Ambulance and Medic 80 — responded to the intersection of West Buffalo Street and North Maple after a tractor-trailer collided with a pickup truck and overturned, completely blocking the road.

According to Warsaw Police Chief Peter Hoffmeister, the tractor-trailer, driven by 62-year-old Mamadou Ba of Philadelphia, lost control on the steep hill, striking a pickup driven by 45-year-old Joshua Burch of North Java. The crash brought down trees, a utility pole, and street signs before coming to rest across both lanes.

Two people were injured — one with minor injuries and another with a head injury. Both were transported to Wyoming County Community Hospital, and Ba was later transferred to Strong Memorial Hospital and released.

The overturned trailer split open, spilling boxes of frozen meatballs, pizza, and pasta across the road. Once it was confirmed the injuries were non-life-threatening, first responders and residents began salvaging the undamaged food for donation.

“We gave a lot of food that’s going to go to people who need it,” said Chief Hoffmeister. “That’s the silver lining of a bad accident.”

Local businesses including Valley Sales & Service and Scofield Transfer & Recycling assisted with cleanup and transport, while volunteers and firefighters loaded pallets of frozen food for distribution to food pantries in Warsaw, Perry, Oakfield, and Geneseo.

The road remained closed for about six hours while crews cleared the wreckage and debris. According to The Daily News Online, the investigation by Warsaw Police and New York State Police’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit is ongoing.

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