FREEDOM, NY – A man has been apprehended following a fatal car crash that claimed the lives of his sister and young niece earlier this summer in Freedom, New York. The man was allegedly under the influence of drugs during the incident.
On June 17, 21-year-old Evan Klink was driving a Dodge Ram when he crossed the center line and collided with a 2005 Ford Focus. The Ford was carrying several passengers, including Klink’s sister and niece, as per a statement from the New York State Police.
The Ford was heading east when the westbound Dodge Ram crossed into its lane, resulting in a head-on collision. Dahlia J. Klink, 24, who was driving the Ford, and a four-year-old passenger were airlifted to a hospital with severe injuries. Tragically, two other passengers, Havanah S. Lopez, 17, and Molly Kibler, 6, were declared dead at the scene.
Evan Klink was treated for injuries and then taken to SP Warsaw for further evaluation. Cameron Klink, 19, a passenger in the Dodge, was also seriously injured and airlifted to a hospital. Dahlia J. Klink passed away the next day at Erie County Medical Center due to her injuries.
After a three-month probe, Evan Klink was charged with the murders of Lopez, Kibler, and his sister, Dahlia Klink. The charges, announced on September 21, include three counts of second-degree murder, one count of aggravated vehicular homicide, one count of first-degree vehicular manslaughter, one count of first-degree vehicular assault, reckless driving, and driving while ability impaired by drugs.
The indictment and arrest of Evan Klink were the result of a collaboration between the New York State Police and the Cattaraugus District Attorney’s Office. The investigation into the crash, assisted by the New York State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Cattaraugus County District Attorney’s Office, and Arcade Fire Department, continues.