Short police chase ends with suspect crashing into semi in Chautauqua Co.

( WJET/WFXP )– A Chautauqua County man is facing criminal charges after a brief police chase in the City of Dunkirk ended with him crashing into a semi-truck.

According to City of Dunkirk Police, officers attempted a traffic stop around 9 p.m. on Jan. 2 near Park Ave. and East 2nd Street in Dunkirk when the driver took off at a high rate of speed.

Victim of Erie’s first homicide of 2025 identified

Police said the suspect didn’t get far after driving through a red light at the intersection of East 2nd and Main Streets when they struck a semi-truck that was headed north on Main Street.

Both vehicles suffered heavy damage from the crash and a large amount of diesel fuel was spilled on the road that was later cleaned up by the  Chautauqua County Hazmat team and Dunkirk Fire Department.

Both the suspect, identified as Christopher Cancel-Vazquez and the semi-truck driver were transported to Brooks Hospital for unspecified injuries.

Erie man sentenced to 9-18 years for killing North East firefighter Shawn Giles

Story continues

TRENDING NOW

LATEST LOCAL NEWS