CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N.Y. — New York State Police announced Friday they have arrested a man in connection to a crash in Pomfret that killed a 7-year-old girl on February 24, 2020.
State Police say 24-year-old Nicholas Mineweaser of Lakewood, N.Y. has been arrested and charged with Vehicular Manslaughter in the 2nd degree and Driving While Impaired by Drugs.
New York State Police have identified the 7-year-old victim of a three vehicle accident as Emmaline A. Wilcox of Cassadaga, New York.
Police responded around 4 p.m. on Febrauary 24, 2020 to an accident on State Road 60 in Pomfret. Investigators say a Kia was waiting to make a left turn into a parking lot when it was rear-ended by a 2009 Hyundai. That collision pushed the Kia into oncoming traffic where it was struck by a tractor-trailer.
The 35-year-old driver of the Kia and Emmaline were taken Brooks Memorial Hospital. She was pronounced dead at the hospital and the driver was treated for non-life threatening injuries.
A message to parents was posted on the Cassadaga Valley Central School. It says Emmaline was a 1st grade student at Sinclairville Elementary School.
The district says counselors will be available over the next few days to support teachers and students.
"Emmaline was a girl who gave hugs every morning on her way in the building, so she was just an absolute sweetheart," said Cassadaga Valley Superintendent of Schools Charles Leichner, who with support staff visited her school today.
"With an elementary school setting it's a challenge to communicate something this complex and tragic..we're just honest and said there was a tragic accident last night, Emmaline passed, that we were very sad for her and her family, and that we were going to go through the day and just support one another as best we can," Leichner told WGRZ-TV.