Woman operating Empower van in Aug. 9 crash was driving with suspended license
A pair of Niagara Falls women have been charged with misdemeanor recklessness counts in connection with a multi-vehicle crash involving a Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) bus on Lockport Road in the Town of Wheatfield on Aug. 9.
Multiple law enforcement sources tell the Gazette that one of the women was driving a Ford Sprinter van owned by Empower of WNY (formerly Niagara Cerebral Palsy), a not-for-profit agency that provides services to handicapped children and adults. Law enforcement sources also confirm that the van driver, identified as Justice Davis, 28, of the Falls, was driving with a suspended driver's license.
Reached by phone on Friday, Empower's Executive Director & CEO Diane Baehre said, "I can't comment. Thank you for calling."
The president of the agency's board of directors, Falls businessman Russell Petrozzi, echoed Baehre's comment.
"I don't have the details and I can't comment on it," Petrozzi said.
Petrozzi apologized for not being able to "say more."
Davis, who was released last week from the Erie County Medical Center, where she had been treated for what was previously described as "serious injuries" resulting from the crash, has been charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree reckless driving (both A misdemeanors), aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle (also a misdemeanor), speed not reasonable and prudent, and failure to keep right.
Baehre and Petrozzi also declined to comment on Davis' employment status with Empower.
NFTA police, who are handling the crash investigation, also charged Miranda Knox, 37 of the Falls. Knox faces counts of second-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree reckless driving and speed not reasonable and prudent.
Both Knox and Davis are scheduled to be arraigned next week in Wheatfield Town Court.
Investigators said the crash occurred about 1:45 p.m. on Aug. 9, when the Empower van, traveling west on Lockport Road and being driven by Davis, attempted to pass a Chevy Cruze driven by Knox. Knox's vehicle was also traveling westbound and was reportedly in the left lane of the roadway.
NFTA police said as Davis attempted to pass Knox, on the right side of the roadway, the Empower van struck the Chevy sedan. The force of that impact caused the van to spin out of control and into oncoming traffic.
Investigators said the out-of-control and spinning van crossed the center line of the road and struck an NFTA Metro bus that had been heading east on Lockport Road near Walmore and Ward roads. The Empower van struck the bus with such force that it became embedded in the front of the bus.
Davis was ejected from the van as a result of the crash. She was taken to Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo where she remained until last week.
Five other individuals, including two bus passengers and the bus operator, along with Knox, and another occupant of her car, were also transported to ECMC for treatment of injuries.
