Police investigate fatal accident that killed man, 22

The third fatal vehicle accident in town in two weeks has claimed the life of a 22-year-old man.

Captain Patrick McKenna said the accident happened at 2:43 a.m. Friday, Oct. 26 at 4285 Chestnut Ridge Road.

The Amherst Police Accident Investigation Unit responded to the scene where a 2001 Honda Civic was eastbound on Chestnut Ridge, left the roadway, struck a parked car and then crashed into a grouping of three or four trees.

The lone occupant of the Honda was identified as Joel W. Radicchi, 22, of Binghamton. He had to be extricated from the vehicle by Ellicott Creek Fire Company and was transported to DeGraff Hospital by Twin City Ambulance. He suffered head injuries and died at the hospital at 3:31 a.m.

It has been determined that the seat belt was not being used. Senior Investigator Kevin Murphy is leading the investigation. The cause of the accident is being investigated, but witnesses say the vehicle was driving at a high rate of speed just prior to leaving the roadway.

Radicchi was a 2007 graduate of the University at Buffalo's School of Management.