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AMHERST, Erie County, N.Y., Nov. 2, 2026 — Two men were seriously hurt early Sunday morning, November 1, when a car left Chestnut Ridge Road and hit a tree near Edgewater Drive, according to Amherst police.
A Chevy Cruze was heading southbound on Chestnut Ridge Road around 3 a.m. when it ran off the roadway and struck a tree near the Edgewater Drive intersection. Officers allege the driver, a 42-year-old Amherst man, fled the scene on foot before being caught and taken into custody.
The driver was brought to Erie County Medical Center with abdominal and leg injuries. A passenger, a 34-year-old Amherst man, was also taken to ECMC and is being treated for a head injury. The extent of both men's recovery has not been released.
Amherst police are continuing to investigate the crash and are asking anyone with information, including dash camera or surveillance video from the area, to contact the department.
Our thoughts are with those who were injured, and we wish them a full recovery.
Local Crash Information for Amherst, NY
The crash was reported on Chestnut Ridge Road in Amherst. For more crash news from the area, see our Erie County accident reports.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can drivers do to avoid crashes like this one?
Keeping speeds appropriate for road and weather conditions, staying alert for curves or obstacles, and never driving while impaired all cut down on single-vehicle crashes like this one.
What injuries are common when a car strikes a fixed object like a tree?
Abdominal injuries, leg fractures, and head injuries are frequent in tree-strike crashes, since the sudden stop throws occupants forward or sideways inside the vehicle.
Why do single-car crashes like this one happen?
Common factors include speeding, impaired or distracted driving, fatigue, and loss of control on a curve or in poor visibility, though the specific cause here has not been confirmed.
Does speed make these crashes worse?
Yes. Higher speed means more force at impact and less time for a driver to react or steer away from an obstacle, which typically leads to more serious injuries.
