A Dunkirk man died after a police pursuit on Route 5 Wednesday in the town of Portland. New York State Police at Fredonia report an investigation determined troopers initiated a pursuit after observing Joseph Damico, 44, operating a motor vehicle westbound on State Route 5 in the town of Dunkirk. The pursuit lasted approximately six minutes, and ended when the his vehicle, a 2010 Jeep Liberty, struck the rear of a 2013 Toyota Rav 4. Both vehicles exited the road and came to rest in a steep, high banked drainage ditch. Damico was pronounced deceased at the scene, while the other operator did not sustain any injuries. A portion of Route 5 was closed for about six hours. The state police Collision Reconstruction Unit, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Forensic Identification Unit, Professional Standards Bureau and the Attorney General’s Office responded and were involved in the ongoing investigation.