Category: PostNews

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. (WIVB) — Independent Health said Friday the private health information of 541 members from Williamsville Central School District was inadvertently attached to a secure report sent to business partners of the insurance company between August 2019 and August 2021.

The names, member identification numbers, medical diagnosis codes and descriptions were embedded in the reports and sent to stop-loss carriers and brokers over two years.

Independent Health said finding the sensitive information in the report would have been “extremely difficult.”

Frank Sava, a spokesperson for Independent Health, said no social security numbers or personal financial information got disclosed. He said it’s unlikely information was misused because the reports were sent to HIPAA-covered entities that understand the requirements to keep data private.

Tractor trailer crash causes diesel fuel spill on Ganson Street

“As part of Independent Health’s safety and security protocols, we conduct regular extensive reviews,” Sava said. “During a recent review on August 13, 2021, we found protected health information (PHI) inadvertently embedded in a hidden cache in a secure report sent on a monthly basis to stop-loss carriers and brokers between August 2019 and August 2021 for 541 members from Williamsville Central School District, a self-funded plan client.”

The 541 members will receive two years of free identity protection and monitoring services. Sava said the error was a human error, and the company is working to prevent it from happening again.

If you were affected and have questions, call Independent Health at (716) 631-2661 or toll-free at 1-800-257-2753.

JAMESTOWN, N.Y. (WIVB) — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging a Jamestown man with the distribution of heroin and fentanyl causing death, distribution of heroin and fentanyl causing “serious bodily injury,” and narcotics conspiracy on Friday.

U.S. Attorney James Kennedy’s Office says between July 2020 and June 2021, 33-year-old James Brandow allegedly conspired with others to sell heroin and fentanyl.

Officials tell News 4, Brandow sold heroin and fentanyl that resulted in the death of one person and the serious injury of another on July 31, 2020.

The charges carry a minimum penalty of 20 years to life in prison and a $1 million fine, according to Kennedy’s office.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — On Friday morning, traffic near Buffalo Riverworks had to be diverted after a crash involving a tractor-trailer on Ganson Street.

Fire crews and the DEC were called to the scene as diesel fuel was leaking from the truck, which was stuck on a set of railroad tracks.

The closeness of the Buffalo River was an additional concern. Buffalo fire officials say no drains were affected.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — National Fuel had to make an emergency trip to Buffalo’s west side on Friday morning.

Buffalo fire officials say an excavator doing construction hit a natural gas pipeline near the corner of Elmwood and Forest. It happened around 8:30 a.m.

As crews were responding, one building had to be evacuated. Eventually, the gas leak was stopped and the situation was resolved.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A motorcyclist has died as the result of a hit-and-run at Genesee Street and Rapin Place in Buffalo.

Police say it happened Thursday night, shortly before 9:30 p.m. According to authorities, a westbound vehicle on Genesee was trying to make a turn when the driver hit the motorcyclist.

The 44-year-old Cheektowaga man on the motorcycle was taken to ECMC, where he later died.

It’s not clear what kind of vehicle struck him. Police say the driver fled the scene.

Anyone with information that could help police in their investigation is asked to call or text the Buffalo Police Department’s confidential tip line at (716) 847-2255.

LEWISTON, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Massachusetts woman was placed under arrest Thursday for attempting to enter Canada with a stolen gun.

New York State Police tell News 4, 23-year-old Alyssa Peckham of Falls River, MA, had a Walther P22 at the Lewiston/Queenston Bridge.

Officials say the gun was reported stolen on October 13 of last year in Grand Rapids, Michigan, by Michigan State Police.

Peckham is currently in the Niagara County Jail, awaiting arraignment.

She faces charges of criminal possession of a firearm, criminal possession of stolen property, and criminal possession of a weapon.

(WIVB) — The State DMV is warning New Yorkers of a “text message phishing scheme.” 

Officials say the phishing or “illegitimate text messages” ask folks to verify their driver’s license information and validate their COVID-19 status.

Anyone receiving a text like this should delete it right away, the NYS DMV tells News 4.

The NYS Office of Information Technology Services recommends these precautions:

DO exercise caution with all communications you receive, including those that appear to be from a trusted entity. Inspect the sender’s information to confirm the message was generated from a legitimate source.DO keep an eye out for telltale signs of phishing – poor spelling or grammar, the use of threats, the URL does not match that of the legitimate site. If the message does not feel right, chances are it is not.DON’T click on links embedded in an unsolicited message from an unverified source.DON’T send your personal information via text. Legitimate businesses will not ask users to send sensitive personal information through text message.DON’T post sensitive information online. The less information you post, the less data you make available to a cybercriminal for use in developing a potential attack or scam.

For more information on DMV phishing scams, click here.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — On Friday, YMCA Buffalo Niagara unveiled its official t-shirt design for this year’s Turkey Trot.

Race organizers say all registered participants and race volunteers will receive a t-shirt at the pre-race packet pick-up.

The design is available for purchase on select merchandise on the new Turkey Trot online store, organizers tell us.

Registration is $42 per entry until the race sells out, and a virtual option is available to former participants and those who cannot attend the in-person event.

SLOAN, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Buffalo man has been indicted on charges accusing him of killing a child and leaving the scene.

This past August, prosecutors say Kevin Mendola, 37, was in a vehicle on Lovejoy Street in Sloan when he put the vehicle in reverse and hit 10-year-old Michael Conklin. This happened near Griffith Park around 5 p.m.

At the time, Conklin was standing next to his bicycle. After the boy was struck, prosecutors say Mendola put the vehicle in drive, and then ran over Conklin again.

Mendola, who didn’t have a valid driver’s license, then left the scene without reporting what happened, prosecutors say. He was found nearby shortly after this.

Conklin was taken to Oishei Children’s Hospital, where he later died as a result of his injuries.

MORE | Family of 10-year-old boy hit and killed in Sloan: ‘There is nothing in this world that will ever replace him’

Mendola, who was indicted on charges of criminally negligent homicide, leaving the scene of an incident resulting in death and aggravated unlicensed operation, faces up to seven years in prison.

He’s currently in custody without bail and will be back in court for a pre-trial conference on October 29.

RUSHFORD, N.Y. (WIVB) — After an injured person was found in a ditch in Allegany County, a driver is facing multiple charges.

This past Friday, New York State police responded to the scene on West Centerville Road in Rushford. It was determined that the person in the ditch had been seriously injured as the result of a crash.

The driver, whom police identified as 54-year-old Richard Jakubowski, had left the scene, they say. After giving him field sobriety tests, police say they determined Jakubowski was drunk.

Jakubowski, whose license had been revoked due to DWI arrests in the last 10 years, was arrested, arraigned and remanded to Allegany County Jail on $5,000 bail. He faces charges of aggravated vehicular assault, DWI, leaving the scene of a serious physical injury accident and aggravated unlicensed operation.

He’ll be back in court later this month.