Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — An Angola man was charged in connection to a crash on Route 5 in Hamburg that took the life of a child Saturday night, according to the Hamburg Police Department.
Police say the accident occurred around 8:10 p.m. Saturday night at Route 5 and North Creek Road. 35-year-old Heather Van Elk of Blasdell had stopped to turn left onto North Creek Road when her vehicle was allegedly hit from behind by a truck driven by 52-year-old Markus Genovese of Angola, according to police.
8-year-old Thomas Ross of Blasdell, who was a rear-seat passenger in Elk’s vehicle, did not survive. A 4-year-old passenger in the same vehicle was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment and has since been released.
Genovese allegedly fled the scene, attempting to hide in a nearby backyard. He was apprehended by Town of Hamburg Police and taken to ECMC where he was placed under arrest on the following charges:
- DWI, DWI by the combination of alcohol and narcotics
- first-degree vehicular manslaughter
- second-degree vehicular manslaughter
- felony aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle
- leaving the scene of a fatal auto accident
- numerous other vehicle and traffic law violations
Genovese was held without bail and is scheduled to appear in Hamburg Town Court June 13.
The Town of Hamburg Police asks anyone who has any relevant information regarding the crash to contact Officer Eric Wilson of the THPD Accident Investigation Unit at (716) 648-5111 ext. 2571.
Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University.
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