An Erie County sheriff's deputy was killed early Wednesday morning in a two-car crash in West Seneca. Authorities say Daniel McParlane, 33, who also served as chairman of the West Seneca Democratic Committee, died in the crash along Indian Church Road near Harlem Road shortly after midnight.
McParlane worked in the Erie County Holding Center in downtown Buffalo. Sheriff's Superintendent Thomas Diina says his death hits the entire department hard.
"It's the absolute worst news you could ever get. The fact that we're a day away from Thanksgiving just exacerbates the tragedy of the situation," Diina said.
"Dan had a lot going on for being at such a young age. It's always tragic when you lose somebody, but have somebody who had attained that level of prominence at such a young age and was certainly a rising star in the political world, it's a loss."
West Seneca Police have arrested Robert Styn of West Seneca and charged him with driving while intoxicated in the fatal crash.
The Erie County Democratic Committee says it is saddened by the loss of one of its leaders. West Seneca Supervisor Sheila Meegan says the death of such a young man involved in town leadership makes it a very sad day.