Amherst police released the names of the five UB students and the Amherst police officer involved in the Jan. 31 Sheridan Drive car crash on Friday.
APD identified the officer involved as John Rusch and the five UB students as driver Brenna Sullivan, passengers Cara Wojtach, Mary Devaney, Savanna Hinten and Sophia Calleo.
The crash occurred a few seconds after the police officer turned on their sirens, according to a previous Spectrum witness account. The witness wrote in an email that he noticed Sullivan, the driver of the 2012 Chevrolet, had a green light at the intersection while the officer had a red light. He also wrote that the officer didn’t slow down when he approached the intersection which likely resulted in the crash.
The Buffalo News reported the five students were admitted to Erie County Medical Center, with two in critical condition and Rusch was admitted to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital with minor injuries.
ECMC did not respond regarding the students’ conditions in time for publication. Amherst Police is still looking for witnesses who haven’t spoken to investigators about the accident.
The news desk can be reached at news@ubspectrum.com
Alexandra Moyen is the senior features editor of The Spectrum.
