AMHERST TIMES
AMHERST, N.Y. — Today, May 16, 2018, I made 7 calls to the New York Department of Transportation concerning the deaths of the 7 people who were killed on a section of Niagara Falls Boulevard. I spoke to seven different people and not one knew who they should direct my call to who could or would answer my questions. My questions concerned when they will do something on this part of Niagara Falls Boulevard to make it safer for people to cross this 7 lane highway.
Why, after the deaths of all these people who had children, grandchildren, friends and others who loved them and miss them, didn’t the D.O.T care enough to correct the problems on this part of the highway?Their deaths caused a loss not only to the individuals who died there but for all those people they left behind.
Dating back to 2013, other fatalities along this stretch of Niagara Falls Boulevard included:
- Sept. 29, 2016: Paul Mroczka, 67, of Amherst, was killed when he was struck by a pick-up at about 6:40 a.m. near Dexter Terrace. He was crossing seven lanes of traffic against the light and was in the crosswalk at the intersection. Police believe he was heading to a bus stop.
- Aug. 30, 2016: John C. Strasser, 62, of Amherst, started walking across five lanes of Niagara Falls Boulevard, assisted by his rolling walker, to catch a bus at 5:43 a.m. He was hit by an SUV at the intersection of the boulevard with Roger Chaffee Drive and Thistle Avenue.
- Feb. 12, 2014: Sharon L. Alfiere, also known as Sharon L. Caruana, 50, died while trying to cross Niagara Falls Boulevard near East Robinson Road just before 9 p.m. after leaving a Sunoco mini-mart at the corner. She was crossing a 45 mph stretch of the boulevard against a traffic light and outside the crosswalk.
- Aug. 9, 2013: Lisa Monaco, 49, of Buffalo, was killed when she was hit shortly after 9 a.m. while crossing the boulevard at Willow Ridge Drive to wait for a bus.
- June 5, 2013: Jeraldine Tater, 49, was killed crossing the boulevard at Willow Ridge Drive at about 5 a.m. Police said she was crossing against a green light and was hit by a Chevrolet Cruze.
To the above list we now add Jennifer Duffin, age 41, who was killed crossing Niagara Falls Boulevard on May 12, 2018. Jennifer Duffin had two children, a 9-year-old daughter and a teenage son. “She was a lovely woman and a good aunt. She was a very good mom,” said a woman who knew her.
Who is responsible to make changes to the Blvd. to make it safer?
It is the “D.O.T.” Now, if someone there would only answer my questions.
Originally published on Amherst Times. Republished with permission.
