Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories

Detective Brian O'Hara of the Erie County Sheriff's Office and Fire Investigator Chuck Berlinger of the Grand Island Fire Co. investigate a vehicle in the Niagara River off East River Road, near the intersection of Ransom Road. (photo by Larry Austin)
Detective Brian O'Hara of the Erie County Sheriff's Office and Fire Investigator Chuck Berlinger of the Grand Island Fire Co. investigate a vehicle in the Niagara River off East River Road, near the intersection of Ransom Road. (photo by Larry Austin)

Grand Island Fire Co. firefighters rescue driver from frigid Niagara River

•Taken from the Jan 2 Island Dispatch

Thu, Jan 8th 2015 03:40 pm

by Ray Pauley

Public Information Officer

Grand Island Fire Co.

At 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 29, Grand Island Fire Co. personnel responded to a motor vehicle accident involving a passenger vehicle that veered off East River Road near the intersection of Ransom Road and ended up about 100 feet out into the Niagara River.

Fire chief Matt Osinski stated that the driver, 24-year-old Jeff Silverthorn of Orchard Park, was guided to shore by GIFC responders after he extricated himself from his vehicle and found himself in 3 feet of water.

He was then treated by GIFC medics for hypothermia and transported by ambulance to Erie County Medical Center for follow-up medical attention.

Al 6:35 p.m., the scene was turned over to the Erie County Sheriff's Office for a related accident investigation, according to Osinski.

Hometown News

View All News