(WNY News Now) – A Hamburg man is facing up to 15 years in prison after allegedly causing a deadly series of hit-and-run crashes that ended in the death of a pedestrian in the City of Tonawanda.
Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announced that 32-year-old Mark G. Whalen of the Town of Hamburg was arraigned on a 12-count indictment stemming from a series of incidents on the evening of November 11, 2024.
Whalen is accused of driving a minivan recklessly across multiple jurisdictions, fleeing police, and causing a fatal crash that claimed the life of 40-year-old pedestrian Terrence Wyatt. He was arraigned before Erie County Court Judge Sheila A. DiTullio on the following charges:
- Manslaughter in the Second Degree (Class C felony)
- Leaving the Scene of an Incident Resulting in Death (Class D felony)
- Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (Class D felony)
- Unlawfully Fleeing a Police Officer (misdemeanor)
- Reckless Driving (misdemeanor)
- Seven counts of Leaving the Scene of an Incident Resulting in Property Damage (violations)
According to investigators, the incidents began around 7:52 p.m. when Town of Evans Police received reports of a speeding minivan swerving into oncoming traffic. A 911 caller reported being rear-ended by the vehicle. A short time later, Town of Hamburg officers attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the driver allegedly fled northbound onto the Skyway, prompting police to terminate the pursuit for safety reasons.
The suspect is then accused of causing multiple hit-and-run crashes:
- At the intersection of Delaware Avenue and Church Street in the City of Buffalo
- On Delaware Avenue and Summer Street in the City of Buffalo
- On Delaware Avenue near North End Avenue in the Village of Kenmore
- At the intersection of Sheridan Drive in the Town of Tonawanda
At approximately 8:15 p.m., Whalen allegedly struck 40-year-old Terrence Wyatt, who was crossing Delaware Street near Benton Street in the City of Tonawanda. The victim succumbed to his injuries, and the driver allegedly fled without reporting the collision.
A short time later, Whalen allegedly rear-ended another vehicle, disabling the minivan. Authorities say he then stole the victim’s pickup truck and fled. He was later taken into custody in North Tonawanda following an attempted carjacking and another crash involving a seventh vehicle.
Whalen is scheduled to appear in court again on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. for a pre-trial conference. He is currently being held without bail.
If convicted of the most serious charge, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
District Attorney Keane praised the collaborative efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies across Erie and Niagara counties, including the City of Tonawanda, North Tonawanda, Hamburg, Tonawanda, and Evans police departments.
As with all criminal cases, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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