Speed was main factor in horrific crash

CLARENCE, N.Y. (WIVB) - Family and friends are trying to come to grips with the deaths of four western New York teenagers killed in a horrific crash.

Authorities say a sedan with four teenagers inside was heading northbound on Strickler Road, when it blew through a stop sign. As it went through a stop sign, it collided with van driven by a couple from North Tonawanda.

It collided in the intersection and the force of the collision forced the vehicles into a yard.

Investigators say speed was a main factor leading to the crash that took four young lives.

Why the black nissan failed to heed a stop sign, we may never know.

"Speed is definitely going to be a factor in this, right now it's the only contributing factor that we're looking at, the stop sign and the speed those are the two contributing factors we're looking at right now, " said Erie County Undersheriff Richard Donovan.

Authorities have identified the four teenagers in the van as Viktor Shapiro, 18,  Mark Brown, 19, Amanda Slisz, 16 and Megan Schnorr, 16.

Shapiro's friends say he loved his car, which he bought just last year.

"It was a little beat up, he put a lot of work into it over this year," said the victim's friend Ben Lorando.

Sources tell News 4 Mark Shapiro's love for driving may have led him to take unnecessary risks. He had a court date this Wednesday in Silver Creek Village Court, for driving without a license, insurance or inspection sticker, based on an incident last summer.

Investigators say however as of Sunday night's tragedy all of Shapiro's documents were in order.

"No one wants to believe it, four people I saw almost three days ago, gone forever," said Vlad Rushanov. "All I've got left is a bunch of plastic and glass."

After running the stop sign, authorities say the northbound sedan collided with van traveling westbound on County Road. The couple in that van survived.

Investigators are trying to sort things out so they can eventually put this tragedy to rest.

"That's going to be part of, big part of the investigation is to find out maybe where they were coming from, where they were heading to, maybe retrace their steps and maybe find some answers for their family and friends," said Sgt. Scott Joslyn

News 4 is told the driver of the van identified as Mark Grimmer from North Tonawanda was released from ECMC this afternoon. His wife Bonnie is still hospitalized.