NORWICH – The glare of the afternoon sun may be to blame for a two-car collision which took place shortly after 3 p.m. on Tuesday at the intersection of Rt. 12 and Upper Ravine Road in the Town of Norwich.

According to Trooper Neil Case of the New York State Police, Betty Conant, 71, of Norwich was attempting to turn left into the Walmart parking lot from the southbound turn lane of Rt. 12 when she struck a passenger vehicle driving north on the state highway.

The second vehicle “overturned twice according to witnesses at the scene,” Case reported. The driver, 73 year-old Shirley Acly of Greene, was extricated from the vehicle by Norwich Fire and Rescue crews, who were the first on the scene.

“They had to use the jaws of life to get the lady out,” said Shanna Harmon, a Walmart employee who was leaving work at the time of the crash and witnessed the collision.

According to Norwich Fire Chief Tracy Chawgo, Acly was conscious and talking when responders arrived at the scene. After being removed from the vehicle, she was transported by ambulance to Wilson Memorial Hospital.