Chase ends in rollover crash

A car being pursued by Amherst police last Thursday collided with another vehicle and rolled over several times before coming to rest on the grounds of the Veterans Hospital on Bailey Avenue.

The chase began at approximately 6 p.m. Thursday, April 3 when Amherst police were asked to assist the Erie County Sheriff's Office in locating a female larceny suspect from the Eastern Hills Mall.

About an hour later, Amherst Police Officer Bruce Mann observed the suspect vehicle traveling west on Main Street and attempted to initiate a stop near Main Street and Maynard Drive in Eggertsville. The suspect vehicle failed to yield to the police vehicle and fled southbound on Bailey Avenue.

The vehicle continued on Bailey Avenue at a high rate of speed and drove through several red lights, according to Capt. Patrick McKenna. The suspect reportedly ran a red light at Bailey Avenue and Sherman Road, which leads to the University at Buffalo, striking a motorist pulling onto the roadway.

The suspect then lost control of her vehicle, crossed the center line into the northbound lanes and left the roadway. The vehicle continued over the lawn and driveway of the Veterans Hospital at 3495 Bailey Ave., hit a curb and rolled over several times.

The vehicle rolled over the top of a parked car before landing on its roof in a hospital parking lot. The suspect was removed from her vehicle with the assistance of patrols and transported to Erie County Medical Center by Rural Metro ambulance where she was listed in serious condition.

The driver of the struck vehicle, Charles L. Bowman of Getzville, was not hurt.

The suspect was identified as Raelyn Loncarevich, 32, of Lakeview. The vehicle she was driving was reported stolen from Buffalo on March 31.

She faces several charges, including felony possession of stolen property, unauthorized use of a vehicle, unlawful fleeing a police officer, unlawful possession of a hypodermic instrument, driving under the influence of drugs, reckless driving and driving with a suspended license.

The Amherst Police Accident Investigation Unit is continuing to investigate the crash.

Loncarevich was released from ECMC on April 4 and transported to Amherst Court where she was arraigned by Judge Mark Farrell.