A Falls man is clinging to life after slamming a BMW SUV into the brick wall of a building in the 2600 block of Highland Avenue late Saturday night.
Falls police said Carl Lightfoot, 45, is in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Erie County Medical Center. Lightfoot reportedly had no pulse when officers arrived at the crash scene at about 11:45 p.m. Saturday.
He was revived by paramedics and then transported to the Buffalo trauma care center.
Falls police patrol officers were dispatched to a report of a single-vehicle crash at the corner of Highland and Fairfield avenues and found the twisted wreckage of a BMW X3 in an open lot adjacent to a vacant two-story brick structure.
Investigators said Lightfoot, who was driving the BMW, attempted to pass another vehicle, stopped at a red light, on the right-hand side and lost control of the SUV. The vehicle hit a light pole and rolled over before crashing into the brick wall.
Police said Lightfoot, who was not wearing a seatbelt, suffered severe head injuries.
The crash caused significant damage to the building and damaged multiple natural gas lines within the structure. Crews from National Fuel were called to the scene and were able to shut down the damaged lines.
The owner of the crashed BMW told police that he had left the keys to the vehicle in the glove compartment and it had been stolen.
Lightfoot had been released from state prison on March 12 after serving roughly 10 years of a 12-year term for shooting at a pair of Niagara Falls Police Narcotics Squad detectives in February 2015. He was originally released from prison in May of 2025, but returned to state custody after violating the terms of his parole.
Retired Niagara County Court Judge Sara Sheldon had sentenced Lightfoot to serve five years of probation after his prison term.
Lightfoot originally faced charges of first- and second-degree attempted murder, attempted first-degree assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, first-degree reckless endangerment, resisting arrest and second-degree obstructing governmental administration in connection with the shooting incident.
He pleaded guilty, as a second felony offender, to a single count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in a deal with prosecutors.
Lightfoot was accused of firing at least one shot at a pair of narcotics detectives during a foot chase in the city’s North End.