ROCHESTER, NY – Truck drivers and others in the local trucking industry say accidents like the one that killed five Perinton teenagers Tuesday are a constant source of concern. No blame has been placed on David Laverty, the driver of the tractor-trailer that was struck by an SUV carrying the 2007 Fairport High School graduates. Hannah Congdon, Bailey Goodman, Katherine Shirley, Meredith McClure, and Sara Monnat were killed in the head-on collision, which occurred after Bailey tried to pass another vehicle on Routes 5 and 20 in Ontario County, according to The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

Authorities said Laverty tried to help the teens, who were trapped in the burning SUV after Bailey pulled into the left lane to pass a van, pulled back into the right lane and then swerved back into the left lane, slamming into his tractor-trailer. He was kept away from the vehicle by the intense heat from the fire.

Laverty, of Olean, Cattaraugus County, could not be reached Wednesday or Thursday, and his company, NBS Trucking in Pennsylvania, is not commenting on the accident because of the pending investigation.