N  I  A  G  A  R  A      G  A  Z  E  T  T  E  October 14, 2008

ACCIDENTS: Investigators look or causes in Grand Island crashes

GRAND ISLAND – Accident investigators from the Erie County Sheriff’s Department are looking into the causes of a pair of weekend crashes that took the life of a Grand Island man and left a 13-year-old boy in critical condition.

Both accidents occurred on Sunday afternoon, the first just after 2 p.m. on Grand Island Boulevard between Webb and Staley Roads.

The 13-year-old was riding his bike and may have moved into the path of a motorcycle ridden by a Pennsylvania man. The boy, whose name is not being released at this time, was unconscious and unresponsive at the scene and was rushed to Women’s and Children’s Hospital with undisclosed injuries.

The motorcyclist, identified as Mark Wolbert, 31, of North East, Pa., was taken to the Erie County Medical Center. Wolbert was treated there for what were described as “upper body injuries.”

No charges have been filed in connection with that accident.

Just over 90 minutes later, deputies and members of the Grand Island Fire Co. were called out to a one-car crash in the 800 section of Whitehaven Road.

The driver of the vehicle, identified as Timothy Weczerek, 29, of Grand Island, reportedly lost control of his car, crossed through two lanes of traffic and hit a ditch on the side of the road. The car then flipped over, pinning Weczerek underneath.

The Grand Island Fire Co., with assistance from an extrication team from the Sheridan Park Volunteer Fire Department, was able to free Weczerek but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sheriff’s investigators said they are still attempting to determine what caused Weczerek to lose control of his vehicle. Investigators said it appeared that he was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.