High-speed pursuit of stolen car leads to deadly accident in Lockport

Lockport, New York – A high-speed chase involving a stolen vehicle in Lockport on Saturday afternoon ended in tragedy, with two people losing their lives after the car they were in crashed into a tree, according to local police reports.

The incident unfolded when a vehicle, reported stolen from Rochester, failed to heed police instructions, leading to a pursuit by Niagara County Sheriff’s deputies. The chase began just before 2 p.m., initiated by a license plate reader’s alert. Attempts to stop the vehicle at a gas station on Chestnut Ridge Road were unsuccessful, as the car sped away towards the city of Lockport, engaging in reckless driving through intersections and ignoring red lights.

Niagara County Sheriff Michael J. Filicetti detailed the sequence of events to News 4, noting the patrol officers’ decision to reduce their speed due to the dangerous velocities of the fleeing vehicle. Despite the efforts to maintain visual contact while ensuring public safety, the stolen car eventually lost control and collided with a tree, resulting in a fatal crash.

The two occupants of the vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene by responding firefighters. In the aftermath, Route 31 was closed between Washburn Street and Spring Street to facilitate emergency response and investigation efforts. The identities of the deceased have not been disclosed as investigations continue.

Sheriff Filicetti expressed sorrow over the incident, emphasizing that the tragic outcome could have been avoided. The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation has been notified, in line with protocols for fatal crashes involving police pursuits.

The Lockport police are leading the ongoing investigation into the crash, as the community grapples with the consequences of the high-speed chase and the loss of lives.