State Police Await Autopsy of Teen Who Drowned in Niagara County Pond

UPDATE

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the drowning of 17-year-old Quinn J. Cratsenberg of Royalton who died after entering a retention pond near Deer View Drive on August 10th.

According to the New York State Police, early findings suggest the teen may not have been a strong enough swimmer to exit the pond safely. Investigators are now waiting for autopsy results from the Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office, which could determine whether a medical issue played a role in his death. Troopers have confirmed that foul play is not suspected.

State Police Troop A Public Information Officer James O’Callaghan said Monday the situation appeared to be “just a couple of kids playing in a pond. They weren’t messing around to a point where anything was putting anyone in danger.” He added that Cratsenberg may have panicked once he reached deeper water and became unable to keep swimming.

Investigators reported the teen walked into the water rather than diving and he was not caught on any underwater obstacles. There is no evidence of drug or alcohol use connected to the incident.

Emergency crews were called at 6:45pm that Sunday after receiving reports that a swimmer had gone under and failed to resurface. Several first responders immediately entered the pond to search but could not locate the teen.

Specialized dive teams, including the State Police Underwater Recovery Team and the Niagara County Sheriff’s Dive Team, later recovered Cratsenberg’s body at about 8:55pm submerged under nearly 10 feet of water.

POLICE IDENTIFY TEEN

New York State Police have released the name of a 17-year-old who drowned in a Royalton retention pond on Sunday night.

Troopers were called to Deer View Drive at about 6:42pm after receiving reports of a teen who had gone underwater and not resurfaced. Investigators say the victim had been swimming in the pond with two other teenagers when he disappeared. One of them called 911 for help.

Search efforts continued for more than two hours before state and county responders located the teen, identified as Quinn Cratsenberg of Royalton, in about 10 feet of water at 8:53pm.

Cratsenberg was taken to the Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. State Police said there were no indications of foul play, but an investigation is continuing.

ORIGINAL STORY

A 17-year-old lost his life Sunday evening after drowning in a pond in the Town of Royalton, according to New York State Police.

Troopers reported they were called at 6:42pm to a location near Deer View Drive for a teenager who had gone underwater and failed to resurface.

Emergency personnel entered the water in an attempt to find him, but their efforts were unsuccessful. The teen’s identity has not been released.

Specialized units, including the State Police Underwater Recovery Team and the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office dive team, were brought in to assist.

A sheriff’s dive team member discovered the victim in roughly 10 feet of water.

The Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an autopsy. Investigators said there are currently no indications of foul play and the incident remains under investigation.

State Police Await Autopsy of Teen Who Drowned in Niagara County Pond