Safety advocates voice concerns following fatal car-pedestrian collision

WEST SENECA, N.Y. (WIVB) - A car-pedestrian crash in West Seneca has taken a man's life. As police work to piece together the details, safety advocates are continuing to sound the alarm as fatal collisions continue to happen.

Safety advocates are enraged after 37-year-old Darnell Collins was killed after being hit by a car. On Thursday, West Seneca Police were called to the 500 block of Mineral Springs. Upon arrival, officers found a man lying face down in the roadway and immediately began CPR.

"They did everything they could to save him," said Lieutenant Jonathan Luterek. "It seems like it probably was already too late due to the impact. It was pretty severe."

The lack of sidewalks in West Seneca has raised concerns for quite some time. Kevin Heffernan, communications director at GObike, says the busy roads and reckless drivers have become hazardous for pedestrians.

"Sometimes there's wide shoulders, but with the rise of reckless driving, a shoulder does nothing to protect anyone," said Heffernan. "You need that true separation from the road to make it safer for people to walk."

Lieutenant Luterek says car-pedestrian collisions have become a consistent issue across Western New York.

Heffernan believes true change in statistics will come once all drivers become more cautious while on the road.

"Do the speed limit. Set cruise control if you know you had a lead foot," said Heffernan. "Put your phone down. There is absolutely no need to be on your phone."

He also encouraged pedestrians to take precautions such as wearing reflective clothing and walking against traffic.

"You can't go out and trust that a driver has your best interest at heart and is paying the most attention that they can," Heffernan said.

He is also calling on members of the Buffalo Common Council to ask residents of their districts to simply slow down. He says it can make a difference and save a life.

Trina Catterson joined the News 4 team in 2024. She previously worked at WETM-TV in Elmira, a sister station of WIVB. See more of her work here.