Staff Reports
A 17-year-old Lewiston-Porter High School senior was killed in a one-car accident Sunday afternoon after driving his SUV into a tree off of Lewiston Road.
Jonathan Miller, 17, of Curtis Court in the Town of Lewiston, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Lewiston Police Sgt. Frank Previte.
The accident occurred about 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Previte said, and when emergency personnel arrived they found Miller pinned in the car with no vital signs. They were unable to resuscitate him and he was pronounced dead at 5:52 p.m.
Previte said the 17-year-old was wearing a seat belt and his SUV’s airbag had deployed. No one else was in the vehicle.
“We believe, with the angle of the impact, as well as other factors, this was an unsurvivable crash,” Previte said.
Witnesses said Miller was traveling on Lewiston Road, just south of Irving Drive, when his SUV began to veer to the left, crossing the oncoming lane, went over the curb and struck the tree.
Previte said an accident reconstruction will determine factors such as speed or the possibility of mechanical failure.
“We don’t believe drugs or alcohol were involved,” he said.
An autopsy will be performed today.
The Lewiston Police Department is investigating the crash with the assistance of the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department.
