Deadly hit-and-run, multiple crashes and car thefts lead to Hamburg man being charged

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A pedestrian is dead and a man is facing multiple charges after multiple car thefts and a series of crashes across multiple cities and towns Monday night, according to City of Tonawanda Police.

Police received a call just after 8.15pm on Monday evening. The incident started in Hamburg, where police gave up the chase. The driver of the suspect vehicle, identified as 31-year-old Mark Whalen of Hamburg, later struck and killed a 40-year-old male pedestrian in Tonawanda.

A short time later, he rear-ended a car at Delaware Avenue and Broad Street in Tonawanda, missing that vehicle, and was involved in another crash in North Tonawanda. Police said Whalen then unsuccessfully tried to hijack another vehicle and was taken into custody.

Whalen faces several charges:

• second degree manslaughter

• third degree grand theft

• second degree reckless endangerment

• third degree unauthorized use of a motor vehicle

• leaving the scene of a fatal accident

• seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance

• multiple traffic violations

Tonawanda police Chief Kevin Ulmer said Whalen was likely involved in other unconfirmed crashes, including on Church Street in Buffalo. He said up to six damaged vehicles were eventually found scattered across multiple municipalities.

“By the time we got there it was over and it was more about slowing it down because you don’t want to miss anything,” Ulmer said. “This size in a city like this was a huge sight for us.”

Whalen is being held in Tonawanda pending arraignment.

“I have been doing this job for more than 20 years. I have never responded to a scene of this magnitude before, so it definitely shakes the foundation of this city,” Ulmer said. “This is absolutely tragic.”

Anyone with information, video or witnesses is asked to contact police at (716) 692-2121 ext. 304 or ext. 0.

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Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his works Here.

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