The youngest person in that vehicle was just 14 years old, sitting in the front seat when their friend lost control of an SUV and crashed into a utility pole, a violent impact that killed two teenagers seated in the back. What began as a late-night ride among friends ended in a devastating tragedy that has shaken the Wellsville and Canisteo communities, leaving families heartbroken and first responders rattled by the scene they encountered.
At 2:24 a.m. on Saturday, six teenagers were traveling eastbound on Tarantine Boulevard in a 2020 Buick Encore. Investigators say the driver approached a sharp curve but failed to keep the vehicle on the road. The SUV crossed onto the north shoulder and struck a utility pole on the driver’s side with catastrophic force.
The impact crumpled the vehicle and trapped several passengers inside, prompting an urgent response from Allegany County Sheriff’s deputies, Wellsville Police, firefighters, and EMS crews.Seventeen-year-old Derrick J. Smith, who had been riding in the tailgate cargo area, suffered fatal injuries on impact. Eighteen-year-old Gavin Odell, seated directly behind the driver, was critically injured as well.
First responders worked desperately to save the two teens but were unable to revive them. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.The four surviving occupants were transported to local hospitals with varying injuries, including the 14-year-old in the front passenger seat. Authorities have not yet released the names of the surviving teens, citing their ages and the ongoing investigation.
Neighbors who awoke to the sound of sirens described a chaotic and heartbreaking scene as emergency crews worked under harsh floodlights to free the trapped occupants. State Police accident reconstruction teams spent hours examining the roadway, the curve, and the wreckage in hopes of determining the precise factors that led to the crash.Now, two families are grieving the unimaginable loss of Derrick and Gavin, while an entire community mourns alongside them, searching for comfort in the face of unthinkable tragedy.
