Motorcycle crashes onto path, kills two

AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) - An afternoon walk turned into an unbelievable tragedy in Amherst, thanks to a suspected drunk driver. It was an accident that may not have happened if the temperatures weren’t so warm Sunday. The tragic scene played out Sunday when three people were hit by a motorcycle, killing two.

Amherst Police Captain Patrick McKenna said, “A motorcycle was westbound on Tonawanda Creek, on an area of Tonawanda Creek Road where the bike path adjoins the roadway. The three people were walking on the bike path when the motorcycle came around the curve, went off the roadway onto the bike path and struck the three individuals.”

The motorcyclist, 53-year-old David Smith, of Niagara Falls, is now charged with DWI and criminally negligent homicide. He is in the hospital with non life threatening injuries.

Sheila Pelton, 81, and 25-year-old Jocelyn Elberson were pronounced dead by doctors at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital. Foster Pelton, 79, Sheila's husband, was taken to ECMC. He was seriously injured, but is expected to survive.

The bizarre accident happened around 3:20 p.m. Sunday. Amherst Police are interested in finding witnesses who saw Smith on his motorcycle before the crash. If you have any information, you can call police at 689-1311.