9-year-old dies in Barrington accident

BARRINGTON—Yates County Sheriff’s deputies report Anna H. Burkholder, 9, has died as a result of injuries sustained during a motor vehicle vs. bicycle accident Thursday, Jan. 30. The incident occurred at about 3:37 p.m. on Gravel Run Road in the town of Barrington. Her sister Nora H. Burkholder, 12, was also hospitalized due to injuries to her lower body during the incident.
Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike said the investigation verified that sun glare was a “major committing factor to the accident at the time.” He said the sheriff’s department received verification of that fact from other witnesses.
“Pielow described the fact that when he was headed down Gravel Run Road, there was a point on the hill where the sun was just right, where all of a sudden he was blinded by the sun,” Spike said. “As he was slowing down and braking, as someone would normally do in that case, the collision occurred. He did not see them prior to that happening.”
Spike said also in the vehicle with Pielow was his son, Dakota Pielow, 20, who made the call to 911 on his cell phone after the accident. He said the two girls were on bicycles without helmets riding in the same direction along the road, not too far from where they lived. Spike said after the collision, Pielow carried the girls to the nearby residences because of his concern about the cold weather. He said Nora had injuries to her lower legs and ankles, while Anna was unconscious at the scene.
“At this time, it looks like it was a tragic accident,” Spike said. “We did do substance abuse testing at the scene, which was all negative.”
Spike said the preliminary investigation indicates there were no violations that occurred and appears that sun glare was the main factor. He said Nora’s injuries we also non-life threatening. Spike said the investigation will continue.