The quiet town of Wellsville, New York, woke to heartbreak on Saturday morning, following a devastating single-vehicle crash that claimed the lives of two young passengers and left a 17-year-old driver hospitalized.
The tragedy unfolded at approximately 2:25 a.m. on Tarantine Boulevard’s eastbound lane, a stretch of road notorious among locals for its sharp, unforgiving curve.
Authorities say the teenage driver lost control of a 2020 Buick Encore, which veered off the north shoulder before colliding with a utility pole on the driver’s side a blow that proved catastrophic for those seated inside.
According to preliminary reports from the Wellsville Police Department and the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office, the impact occurred with such force that emergency crews arriving on the scene found the SUV heavily damaged and two of the four occupants unresponsive.
Gavin Odell, 18, who was seated directly behind the driver, suffered fatal injuries at the moment of impact. Another passenger, whose name has not yet been released pending family notification, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver and a surviving passenger were transported to Jones Memorial Hospital before being airlifted to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester for further treatment.
Investigators are still working to determine what led to the fatal crash whether excessive speed, fatigue, or other factors played a role.
The curved section of Tarantine Boulevard where the collision occurred has long been a point of concern for residents.
Local drivers say that even a slight misjudgment on that curve can cause vehicles to drift toward the shoulder, especially at night when visibility is poor and the road’s contours can be deceiving.
The Wellsville Central School District confirmed that the young men involved were former and current students, releasing a statement offering condolences and counseling resources for grieving classmates and staff.
“We are heartbroken,” the district said. “Our thoughts are with the families of those we’ve lost and with the students recovering from this tragic accident.”
Neighbors who live near the crash site described waking to the sound of sirens and the glow of emergency lights cutting through the early-morning fog.
“We’ve seen accidents on that curve before, but never anything like this,” said one longtime resident. “It’s just heartbreaking to think of kids barely out of high school losing their lives like this.”
As word of the crash spread through the community, a makeshift memorial began forming along Tarantine Boulevard: flowers, photos, and handwritten messages placed at the base of the shattered utility pole.
Friends of the victims gathered throughout the day, many in tears, sharing stories of laughter, friendship, and the bright futures that were tragically cut short.
The Wellsville Police Department has asked anyone with information about the events leading up to the crash to come forward as the investigation continues.
Meanwhile, grief counselors and clergy have joined with community members to offer support to the victims’ families and peers.
For Wellsville, a town that prides itself on its close-knit spirit, this loss feels deeply personal.
The memory of Gavin Odell and the second victim will live on through the hearts of their loved ones and in the community’s renewed call for safer roads and greater awareness of the fragile nature of life.
