Buffalo man killed in hit-and-run crash on Union Road in Cheektowaga

Cheektowaga police announced an investigation is underway after a Buffalo man was killed in a hit-and-run crash on Union Road on Sunday.

Police said dispatch received calls for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle on Union Road near the intersection of Walden Avenue just after 5:30 p.m. 21-year-old Demario Patterson was located unresponsive on the ground and the vehicle that struck him did not stop after the accident.

Mobility advocates say these deaths are happening more often.

To our knowledge, his death is already the 15th person out walking to be killed by a motor vehicle in Erie County since November 15, 2023. That is a shocking rate of deaths that this region has not seen in decades. We must not accept these deaths as a normal occurrence. They are not," said Kevin Heffernan, communications director for GoBike.

Witnesses told police that a black sedan struck Patterson in the road and continued north on Union.

Patterson was transported to ECMC and later died from his injuries.

"Our citizens and our politicians must acknowledge what a terrible problem this is, in order to begin to solve it. We can start by redesigning our roads and intersections to prioritize the safety of all users, those on foot, in chairs, on bikes, pushing strollers, and driving, rather than prioritizing car speed and convenience," said Heffernan.

Police believe they located the vehicle involved in the crash and the investigation is ongoing.