JUNE 11, 2015
TONAWANDA, NY
A boat passenger was killed in an accident on Ellicott Creek
about an hour after sunrise Thursday morning, Town of Tonawanda police
reported.
The victim suffered a fatal head injury after striking the
bottom of a bridge near Thistle Avenue, about six blocks west of Niagara Falls
Boulevard. Police have not released the name, gender or age of the victim.
“The boat was traveling down Ellicott Creek, the passenger
stood up and struck their head on the foot bridge that crosses the creek,” Town
of Tonawanda Police Capt. Joseph Carosi said.
Police said there were multiple passengers aboard what was
described as an overnight leisure ride. Following the accident, the victim fell
back into the boat.
“The boat came to a rest several hundred yards west of the
foot bridge,” Carosi said. “One of the passengers got out and started flagging
down traffic.”
The victim was taken to Erie County Medical Center,
following the incident that was first reported to police at 6:46 a.m.
A portion of Ellicott Creek Road was closed between
Woodstock and Thistle avenues following the fatal accident, police said.