Lewiston Police Department officer involved in vehicle accident

UPDATE: Police and fire responders are continuing their investigations into a fiery two-vehicle accident this week that left a Lewiston Police Department officer unconscious in his patrol car.

According to the LPD, at approximately 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 27, patrols were dispatched to a two-vehicle accident on Military Road at the exit ramp from the I-190 North. Reports stated it was an LPD vehicle that was involved, and on fire, with the officer unresponsive and pinned inside the vehicle.

LPD officer Cody Bruyere was first on scene and was able to remove the officer from the vehicle with the assistance of New York State Trooper Adam Moen.

In a social media post, the LPD stated, “The actions of these officers were heroic and were vital in preventing further injury or death.”

The officer involved in the MVA was later identified as Joshua Belin, who has been with LPD for two years.

According to the LPD, a preliminary investigation found Belin’s vehicle was travelling northbound on Military Road when it struck the rear of a tractor-trailer and ignited. The tractor-trailer was also northbound on Military Road.

Belin was transported to ECMC where he was treated for suffering a broken ankle and a head injury. He has since been released.

LPD said the driver of the tractor-trailer was identified as Paul Fisher, an employee of Vargo Trucking.

It stated, “During the course of our investigation, we learned that Mr. Fisher used a fire extinguisher to hold back the flames until rescuers could arrive to extricate officer Belin. Mr. Fisher’s actions saved officer Belin from further injury.”

The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, Town of Niagara Police, U.S. Border Patrol and Upper Mountain Fire Co. assisted LPD on the accident scene.

Commenting on the actions of Belin, LPD Chief Frank Previte told local media, “It takes a lot to run towards something like that. These guys do something like that every day; they don’t think of themselves first.

“There’s a lot of danger running up to a burning vehicle. They’re used to putting others before themselves; it’s a bit little more when it’s one of our own.

Of Fisher’s actions, he added, “He probably saved his life, as well. … When he was unconscious, the truck driver … got out with his fire extinguishing materials and was able to knock the fire down a little bit. Had he not done that, it would have been out of control probably by the time that (responders) got there.”

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The Lewiston Police Department shared this message Wednesday morning on social media:

“This morning at approximately 5:30 a.m., patrols were dispatched to a vehicle accident on Military Road at the exit ramp from the I-190 North. Reports stated that it was a Lewiston Police vehicle that was involved and that the patrol vehicle was on fire with the officer unresponsive pinned inside the vehicle. Lewiston officer Cody Bruyere was first on scene and was able to remove the officer from the fully involved vehicle with the assistance of NYS Trooper Adam Moen. The actions of these officers were heroic and were vital in preventing further injury or death. The officer was transported to ECMC and suffered a broken ankle, head injury and is undergoing further testing. The preliminary investigation shows that the patrol vehicle was northbound on Military Road when it struck the rear of a tractor trailer and immediately caused the patrol vehicle to ignite. The tractor trailer was also northbound on Military Road. The Lewiston Police and Niagara County Accident Investigation Units are completing the investigation with further findings to follow. The department was also assisted by the Niagara County Sheriffs, Town of Niagara Police as well as Border Patrol and Upper Mountain Fire Co.”

Military Road has since reopened from Upper Mountain Road to Saunders Settlement Road.