A Niagara Falls woman has died, and a city man is clinging to life, as a result of a two-car crash at the intersection of Military Road and Niagara Falls Boulevard Monday morning.
The grinding crash occurred around 6:28 a.m. when a 2006 Jeep Compass operated by a 74-year-old Niagara Falls woman entered the intersection traveling eastbound on Niagara Falls Boulevard. As the Compass passed through the intersection, it collided with a 2012 Toyota RAV4 traveling northbound on Military Road that was operated by a 61-year-old male driver from Niagara Falls.
The force of the collision spun both vehicles to the edges of the intersection and caused the airbags in both vehicles to be deployed.
Falls Police Traffic Division Crash Investigation Unit (CIU) detectives said a preliminary investigation showed that the driver of the Jeep Compass entered the intersection on a red light. Investigators said bright, early morning sunlight may have been a factor in the crash.
Police said both drivers suffered traumatic injuries and were transported by ambulance to Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo.
The male driver, who was initially unresponsive, underwent emergency surgery and was listed in critical condition. The female driver, who was alert and talking to paramedics at the crash site, was initially listed as unstable and in critical condition.
She died from her injuries late Monday afternoon. Police are withholding her identity pending notification of the family.
The intersection was closed for several hours while the crash site was processed by investigators. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Any witnesses are encouraged to call the Falls Police Traffic Division at 716-286-4563 or the non-emergency line at 716-286-4711.