A 16-year-old boy is dead and another teenager is critically injured after a single-vehicle crash in the early morning hours of Saturday, Oct. 31, on Maple Avenue in Cassadaga. Chautauqua County Sheriff's deputies responded to the one-vehicle wreck at 12:37 a.m., and both teens involved attended Cassadaga Valley Central School.
According to erienewsnow.com, one teen suffered serious injuries and was flown to an area hospital for treatment, while the other was pronounced dead at the scene. The Post-Journal reports that, per Sheriff's deputies, the male juvenile who was flown out sustained serious injuries, while a second male juvenile sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased. New York State Police, along with the Cassadaga and Stockton fire departments, also responded to the scene alongside county deputies.
School District Confirms Both Students Attended Cassadaga Valley
Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office and New York State Police confirmed the crash took place on Maple Avenue in Cassadaga, and the Cassadaga Valley Central School District said both victims are students of the district, as reported by chautauquatoday.com. The district called the news heartbreaking, a sentiment echoed in a statement relayed by the Post-Journal.
In a message shared with families, the district said, “Last night two of our students were involved in a tragic car accident. One of our students has passed away, and our second student is critically injured,” according to wkbw.com.
Crisis Center Opens at Middle High School
The school district announced it would make counseling available to students both Saturday and Sunday, according to the Post-Journal. A crisis center was set to open Saturday at 2 p.m. at the middle high school, with a second session planned for Sunday at noon, per the same account. Visitors to the crisis center were asked to enter through the main doors beneath the clock tower.
The crash remains under investigation. The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office said that additional information will be released as it becomes available, according to wivb.com, which also confirmed that the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office, New York State Police, and the Cassadaga and Stockton fire departments all responded to the scene.
