A six-minute car chase ended in a fatal collision on State Route 5 in the Town of Portland, the New York State Police announced.

Joseph Damico, 44, of Dunkirk, was pronounced dead at the scene on Wednesday after he was pursued by state police for a reason still unknown. The incident was investigated by members assigned to NYSP Fredonia.

Troopers had initiated a pursuit after observing Damico operating a motor vehicle westbound on State Route 5 in Dunkirk. The pursuit lasted approximately six minutes, and ended when the suspect’s vehicle, a 2010 Jeep Liberty, struck the rear of a 2013 Toyota RAV4.

Both vehicles exited the roadway and came to rest in a steep, high-banked drainage ditch. Damico was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver was not injured.

The NYSP Collision Reconstr

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