Driver was wearing his seatbelt at time of crash

HAMBURG, N.Y. (WIVB) - News 4 is learning more about a 17 year old's brush with death this weekend when his SUV dove over a cliff in Hamburg.

Officials told News 4 that Michael Davison was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Police say the teen was not texting, or on his phone. They also say drugs and alcohol were not a factor.

Officials say, 17-year-old Michael Davison swerved to avoid hitting an animal before he plummeted off a steep cliff into a creek. It happened early Sunday morning, on Lakeview Road in Hamburg. Emergency responders say the boy was sitting on the roof of his white Land Rover SUV when they arrived.

The rescue took several hours. Many tools were used to lift the boy up safely. Officials and residents living nearby are shocked he walked away with only minor injuries.

"It's about a 90 foot drop, a pretty treacherous cliff, has a lot of trees on it a lot of brush," said David O'Brien, Village of Hamburg Fire Chief. "No bad injuries actually, the car hit straight down and what happened is the airbags actually saved him and ejected him out of the car."

"It's amazing that someone lived through that and that's what I hear that the kids fine and that's amazing, its a miracle," said a resident.

Police told News 4 this was the first time an accident like this happened. Some neighbors say the road can be very dangerous.