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CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) - An elderly woman was found dead in Cheektowaga, and police suspect she may have been swept away in a rain-swollen creek.
Authorities are saying that this appears to be a tragic accident. It began Thursday morning around 8:15 a.m. when a passerby noticed a vehicle in Scajaquada Creek.
Cheektowaga Police Capt. Jim Speyer said, "It's a fast-moving creek."
Cheektowaga Police say the victim's unoccupied vehicle was discovered in Scajaquada Creek, not far from her home on Marlene Drive.
"At the time it was raining pretty hard, and we believe that the swift water was definitely a factor," said Capt. Speyer.
After searching the creek, the body of 72-year-old Marcia Janulewicz was found about a quarter of a mile downstream under the Nagel Drive bridge.
Capt. Speyer said, "She possibly opened up the car door, walked out, tried to get away from the vehicle and tried to get out of the creek, and possibly was swept away by the water."
The Erie County Sheriff's office Special Service Unit was called in to assist with divers.
Erie County Sheriff's Capt. Gregory Savage said, "Our diver entered the water at the upstream side of the bridge. He retrieved the body."
Carol Cebulski of Marlene Drive lives across the street from Marcia Janulewicz and has known her for a long time.
"Oh my God. She didn't deserve to die that way. She was a nice person. Wanted to help other people," said Cebulski.
Kim Beatty lives in the neighborhood and says she's surprised that this happened.
Beatty said, "It's shocking. It's never happened. I can't believe it. The speed limit is 30 miles per hour, so to go off and end up in the creek is amazing."
Authorities are still trying to figure out what caused the victim and her vehicle to end up in the creek.
Capt. Speyer said, "Possibly that it's a medical condition, confusion. It's impossible to tell. It's a little too early for all that."
Capt. Speyer says it was raining hard and that the creek was rising Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.
The results of an autopsy are pending. There is no word yet on the cause of death or the time of death.
Authorities are saying that this appears to be a tragic accident. It began Thursday morning around 8:15 a.m. when a passerby noticed a vehicle in Scajaquada Creek.
Cheektowaga Police Capt. Jim Speyer said, "It's a fast-moving creek."
Cheektowaga Police say the victim's unoccupied vehicle was discovered in Scajaquada Creek, not far from her home on Marlene Drive.
"At the time it was raining pretty hard, and we believe that the swift water was definitely a factor," said Capt. Speyer.
After searching the creek, the body of 72-year-old Marcia Janulewicz was found about a quarter of a mile downstream under the Nagel Drive bridge.
Capt. Speyer said, "She possibly opened up the car door, walked out, tried to get away from the vehicle and tried to get out of the creek, and possibly was swept away by the water."
The Erie County Sheriff's office Special Service Unit was called in to assist with divers.
Erie County Sheriff's Capt. Gregory Savage said, "Our diver entered the water at the upstream side of the bridge. He retrieved the body."
Carol Cebulski of Marlene Drive lives across the street from Marcia Janulewicz and has known her for a long time.
"Oh my God. She didn't deserve to die that way. She was a nice person. Wanted to help other people," said Cebulski.
Kim Beatty lives in the neighborhood and says she's surprised that this happened.
Beatty said, "It's shocking. It's never happened. I can't believe it. The speed limit is 30 miles per hour, so to go off and end up in the creek is amazing."
Authorities are still trying to figure out what caused the victim and her vehicle to end up in the creek.
Capt. Speyer said, "Possibly that it's a medical condition, confusion. It's impossible to tell. It's a little too early for all that."
Capt. Speyer says it was raining hard and that the creek was rising Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.
The results of an autopsy are pending. There is no word yet on the cause of death or the time of death.
