ECSO investigating hit-and-run incident involving patrol vehicle in Clarence

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A hit-and-run incident involving a patrol vehicle occurred early Tuesday morning in the Town of Clarence, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office announced.

Officials said around 3:50 a.m., a deputy was patrolling Wehrle Drive and passed Connection Drive, where the deputy saw a black SUV with its doors open.

The deputy suspected multiple people on the scene were possibly attempting to break into vehicles, according to the sheriff’s office. Officials said the deputy made a U-turn on Wehrle Drive and drove northbound on Connection Drive to investigate when the individuals then entered the SUV.

According to the sheriff’s office, the SUV then drove southbound on Connection Drive, struck the patrol vehicle’s front push bar on the passenger side, and fled eastbound on Wehrle Drive at a high rate of speed.

The deputy was not injured and the SUV may have damage on its passenger side, officials said.

There was one report of a larceny from a vehicle and another of a vehicle break-in in the Connection Drive neighborhood, however, nothing appeared to have been taken, according to deputies.

Both incidents remain under investigation.

Anyone with information regarding the incidents is asked to call the Erie County Sheriff’s Office at (716) 858-2903.

Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here .