Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard reports the arrest of Tanner Atkinson, 20, of Grand Island after an investigation following a crash into the Niagara River discovered that Atkinson was intoxicated.

Just after midnight on July 20, Deputies arrived at the intersection of Love Road and West River Parkway where they observed members of the Grand Island Fire Department trying to extract two occupants from a vehicle which was lying on its side in about one foot of water.

Once freed from the vehicle, Deputies interviewed the driver and administered standard field sobriety tests.  It was determined that Atkinson was impaired and he was taken into custody.  The Deputies’ observed visible skid marks on the roadway near the scene, and debris was strewn over several hundred feet near where the vehicle crashed through trees landing in the river.  Deputies also discovered numerous empty beer cans in the vehicle’s cabin and an empty case of beer. 

The defendant and his passenger were transported to Erie County Medical Center for the treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Atkinson was charged with DWI and several infractions including drinking in a vehicle on a highway, speeding, and failing to stop at a stop sign.

The defendant faces a future court date in Grand Island Town Court.