PORTLAND - Around 3:25 p.m. Tuesday, a call went out over the scanners that a vehicle had rolled over a cliff on Route 5 near Lake Road in the town of Portland. Arriving quickly at the scene were the State Police, Chautauqua County Sheriff's, and the Brocton, Portland and Westfield Fire Departments along with Emergency Medical Services.
The Jeep Liberty, operated by Herbert Schultz, 72, of Brocton, was headed eastbound on Route 5 when it crossed the westbound lane and went into a ditch, striking a telephone pole and entering a deep creek bed, further striking an earthen embankment.
The Jeep came to rest on the roof and driver's side in a ravine directly across from the New Horizons Trailer Park. Although many arrived on the scene to help, Schultz was pronounced dead at the scene. Later blood testing revealed that Schultz had suffered a heart attack prior to the accident.
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OBSERVER Photo by Nicole Gugino
A Jeep Liberty heading eastbound, Tuesday afternoon left the road and fell into a ravine off Route 5 near the New Horizons Trailer Park. The operator of the vehicle, Herbert Schultz, 72, was found dead at the scene.
