Batavia police crash under investigation

Batavia police are still investigating a crash two weeks ago that injured three people and damaged a Batavia police car.

The crash happened at 9:06 p.m. March 30 at Randall Road and McKee Street.

According to a traffic crash report, Batavia Police Officer Scott Mercil was driving a Ford Crown Victoria squad car south on Randall, following a vehicle he was considering pulling over on a traffic stop. When that vehicle turned on to McKee, Mercil followed immediately, according to the report, Mercil told the responding officer he did so “to maintain contact,” and did not see a northbound S10 pickup truck.

The pickup truck hit the rear passenger door of the police car. The driver told police there wasn’t enough time for him to stop.

The police car’s emergency lights and sirens had not been turned on.

Mercil and the three occupants of the pickup truck — a 25-year-old man, a 20-year-old woman and a 2-year-old girl — were taken to Delnor Hospital in Geneva. The injuries were not serious, according to Batavia Deputy Chief Dan Eul.

Mercil has worked for Batavia for 11 years.

Eul said the city is waiting for a report from an insurance adjuster about the damage to the squad car, but expects it may be declared a total loss.