A photo of Kayden Joseph Belleisle from the GoFundMe page.
By JOHN ANDERSON
Three bystanders were struck by a car after a horrific accident on State Route 417 in Portville on Saturday at 1 a.m.
An Olean teen died at the scene. A teenage girl who was in critical condition has been upgraded to stable after surgeries and another female has been released from John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo.
A GoFundMe account (click HERE) has been set up for Kayden Joseph Belleisle, 19, of Olean, who died. Belleisle is a 2021 Olean High graduate and was honored for his academic work at the Career & Technical Educational Center in Olean.
The Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Department reported a 20-year-old man was driving a truck on Route 417 and struck a Jeep parked legally on the side of the road. The Jeep then went into another vehicle and struck the three teenagers.
The Wellsville Sun has learned the driver, who is from Bolivar, was investigated and then detained by deputies before he was taken to the Cattaraugus County Jail. No other information has been released.
On the GoFundMe page for Kayden, Daneille Minges wrote, “As most of you know, the world lost an amazing young soul last night way too early. Kayden was hit and killed last night by a drunk driver. If you know this family you know that they have been through hell these last few years and are now going through the unthinkable again. Casey and Roy never expected to have to bury their 19 year old son and we all know the financial strain that this can cause. Kayden was loved by so many, if you can help in any way it would be very much appreciated. Prayers and love needed even more.”
Gabby Kranock, 18, was also struck and was taken to the Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo in critical condition.
However, after surgeries, she was upgraded to stable. She has two GoFundMe pages set up (HERE and HERE).
One of the pages set up was by Christianna Reynolds who said Gabby was stable, but was having a second surgery. During the first surgery, the front of her neck was repaired and hardware was put in. During the second surgery, the back of the neck will be operated on because it’s broken and displaced. She also has a fracture and compressed back.
Reynolds wrote, “Tragically a young man died, the other two including Gabby are injured. As of (Sunday morning), Gabby was in critical condition and just had to be put on breathing support and is still paralyzed from the shoulders down. Gabby is supposed to have TWO surgeries on her back to try and cure the paralysis. Please support Gabby and her family by helping them have the money to stay in a hotel in Buffalo (where Gabby is in the hospital) and to cover medical bills!”
In the GoFundMe set up by Levi Peacock, he said, “On Saturday, September 3rd, around 1:25am, Gabby and two of her friends were hit by a drunk driver while standing in a yard talking to one another. She was Mercy Flighted and in critical condition when admitted to the Trauma Intensive Care Unit. Gabby received a fracture-dislocation in the C4 and C5 vertebrae in her neck and a fracture in her lower back and pelvis. She currently has no feeling below her shoulders and as a result, cannot move. The family is looking at Gabby having to receive more surgeries to correct her current and prevent further injuries.”
The third person injured was Hailey Bello, 16. A GoFundMe and information was posted with permission of her family (click HERE).
Val Clarke Blaske Siago set up the page and said, “A quiet celebratory get-together Saturday night in Portville quickly turned to tragedy as a truck careened into a group of young adults, killing one and gravely injuring two more. Hailey, one of the three, is currently in Oishei’s with a broken leg and numerous internal issues. She’s facing a long recovery both physically and mentally. Any donations to help this family will be greatly appreciated.”
In an update, she added, “Hailey has been discharged from Oishei’s and is now recuperating at home. She has a high ankle fracture as well as a broken foot. Her doctors are optimistic that she, with extended care, will make a full recovery. Thank you all for your donations and prayers.”
The funeral arrangements for Kayden are under the direction of Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home.
Calling hours will be held at the Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc., 646 E. State St., Olean on Friday September 9, 2022 and services will be held on Saturday, September 10, 2022. A full obituary has not been published.
