On Saturday, February 17th, tragedy struck when two individuals from Rochester lost their lives during the course of a stolen vehicle incident.
This fatal episode transpired around 2 p.m. in the Town of Lockport, initiating in a business parking lot on Chestnut Ridge Road. Here, a deputy from the Niagara County Sheriff's Office endeavored to pull over the vehicle, identified as stolen from Rochester by a patrol car's license plate reader. However, the driver of the Subaru opted to flee.
Officials from the sheriff's department noted that the deputy gave chase briefly, but had to reduce their speed as the suspect's vehicle accelerated and started ignoring traffic signals.
In an interview with Channel 4 News, Sheriff Michael Filicetti stated, "Our patrol unit had to decrease its pursuit due to the excessive speeds."
Eventually, the deputy witnessed the Subaru's driver lose command of the vehicle, leading to a collision with a tree on Route 31, between Washburn and Spring streets, from afar.
Lockport firefighters arrived at the crash site to find both occupants of the car deceased.
The victims were later identified as 29-year-old Michael L. Walker and 28-year-old Ana G. Cerrato, both from Rochester.
The City of Lockport Police Department's Accident Investigation Unit was dispatched to the scene for further inquiry into the incident.
Additionally, the New York State Attorney General's Office of Special Investigation has been called upon to conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.