Spider-panicked driver crashes into Yacht Club dock, hitting two boats

Courtesy of the Office of Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino:

At approximately 6:12 a.m. Tuesday, an officer from the Niagara Falls Police Department traffic unit responded to the LaSalle Yacht Club, at 73 S.68th St., to investigate a vehicle crash.

Nineteen-year-old Neysia McCarthy of Niagara Falls had driven her 2017 Chevrolet through the parking lot, through the curbing and into two boats and a dock in the Niagara River. She alleges she panicked and was unable to stop when a spider fell on her while she was operating her vehicle.

McCarthy and her 21-year-old female passenger were uninjured in the crash.

Each of the boats, a 1987 SunRunner and a 2020 Godfrey pontoon boat, sustained extensive damage. The dock and an electrical box owned by the LaSalle Yacht Club were also damaged. A heavy-duty tow truck was required to remove the vehicle from its final resting place.

McCarthy was issued appearance tickets for reckless driving and failure to reduce speed. She is due in court Aug. 21. She is innocent of all charges until and unless proven guilty.