BLASDELL, N.Y. — Family, friends, and classmates continue to mourn the death of 8-year-old Thomas Ross who died on Saturday, June 8 in a tragic crash on Route 5 in Hamburg.
The 2nd grader was sitting in the back seat of his mother's car when according to Hamburg Police, they were rammed from behind while stopped to make a left turn onto North Creek Road around 8:10 p.m.
On Monday, the driver accused of causing the crash, 52-year-old Markus R. Genovese of Angola, was arraigned before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller.
Genovese has been charged with the following:
- One count of Vehicular Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class “C” felony)
- One count of Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree (Class “D” felony)
- One count of Leaving the Scene of an Incident Resulting in Death (Class “D” felony)
- One count of Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the First Degree (Class “E” felony)
- One count of Assault in the Third Degree (Class “A” misdemeanor)
- One count of Driving While Intoxicated (unclassified misdemeanor)
- One count of Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs or Alcohol (unclassified misdemeanor)
- New York State Vehicle & Traffic Law violations for speeding, driving without a license, drinking alcohol or using cannabis in a motor vehicle on a highway and being a pedestrian on a prohibited area of a highway
After the crash, prosecutors say Genovese abandoned his car and ran from the scene. Police located him in the nearby woods soon after the crash and he was transported by ambulance to ECMC.
Genovese will appear before a Hamburg Town Court Justice on Thursday, June 13 at 11 a.m.
If Genovese is convicted of the highest charge he will face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. Until then he is being held without bail.
To read more of our previous coverage on the incident click here.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the family with medical and funeral expenses. If you wish to donate, you can do that here: www.gofundme.com/f/support-heathers-family-through-tragic-loss
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