Jason Beckman from North Tonawanda Identified as Driver Who Plunged Vehicle Into Upper Rapids

A North Tonawanda man has been identified as the victim of Monday’s fatal incident in which a Jeep Gladiator drove off the Niagara Scenic Parkway and into the Niagara River near the Bird Overlook.

According to the New York State Police, the call came in around 9:15am on October 6th reporting a vehicle that had exited the parkway and entered the river. Multiple agencies responded including the New York State Park Police, State Police, Niagara Falls Police, and the Niagara Falls Fire Department.

Search operations were immediately launched using drones, a State Park Police rescue vessel, State Police Aviation, an Underwater Dive Team, and officers conducting shoreline sweeps. By 10:49am, the Park Police Marine Unit located a submerged vehicle approximately 50 feet from shore.

Later that same day, members of the State Park Police Marine Unit, working with the State Police Underwater Recovery Team, recovered a body in the Niagara River. This information was not released by State Police until the morning hours of October 7th.

Authorities confirmed the victim as Jason Beckman, 52, of North Tonawanda, the registered owner and operator of the Jeep involved. Beckman was pronounced deceased and transported to Erie County Medical Center for an autopsy.

State Police said no other individuals are believed to be connected to the incident. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Jason Beckman from North Tonawanda Identified as Driver Who Plunged Vehicle Into Upper Rapids