Amherst Football Coach Jason Beckman was Driver who Plunged Vehicle Into Upper Rapids

State Police have identified Jason Beckman, Amherst Central High School’s longtime varsity football coach, as the driver whose vehicle entered the Niagara River and led to a massive emergency response on Monday morning.

Beckman, 52, of North Tonawanda, was the registered owner of a Jeep Gladiator that veered off the Niagara Scenic Parkway near the Bird Overlook, a waterfowl viewing area, shortly after 9:15am on October 6th. Witnesses called 911 to report the vehicle leaving the roadway and entering the upper Niagara River. Witnesses further reported that they saw Beckman attempting to swim to shore before disappearing from sight.

Responding units included the New York State Park Police, State Police, Niagara Falls Police, and the Niagara Falls Fire Department. Search efforts quickly escalated with drones, shoreline sweeps, a Park Police rescue vessel, and aviation and underwater dive teams deployed to the area. At 10:49am, the Park Police Marine Unit located a submerged vehicle roughly 50 feet from shore.

Members of the State Park Police Marine Unit, working alongside the State Police Underwater Recovery Team, recovered a body from the water. Authorities confirmed the victim as Beckman. He was pronounced deceased at the scene and transported to Erie County Medical Center where an autopsy is being conducted.

Beckman, who served as Amherst High’s varsity football coach for years, was widely known in the Western New York athletics community. The sudden tragedy has left students, athletes, and faculty reeling.

State Police have confirmed that no other individuals are believed to have been in the vehicle and the search for additional victims has ended. The cause of the incident remains under investigation.

Beckman was celebrated as the Buffalo Bills Coach of the Week in week 5 of 2019. This is what they wrote about him:

The Buffalo Region Coach of the Week, Beckman led his team to a big 26-16 win over Sweet Home, marking Amherst's first win over the rival since 2001. The longtime opponents have been battling each other since 1959 and both were eager for a 'W.' While Sweet Home started out with an early 8-0 lead in the first quarter, it was Amherst that sealed the victory when they responded with four consecutive touchdowns.

Amherst Football Coach Jason Beckman was Driver who Plunged Vehicle Into Upper Rapids