BUFFALO, N.Y. — Terrence Wyatt, 40, was killed on Veterans Day. He was taking a walk after getting home from work.
Two of his sisters describe him as "meek, bright, and intelligent." Wyatt worked for Supplemental Healthcare staffing. His job involved placing travel nurses in jobs across the country.
On Monday evening, the father of six was at the end of his street, Benton and Delaware in the City of Tonawanda, when, according to police, he was hit by a car while crossing.
The driver, Mark Whelan, 31, of Hamburg, according to police, didn't have a valid driver's license, kept driving, and then farther down Delaware, he caused a rear-end collision, then stole that victim's car and fled, causing another crash in North Tonawanda. Police also found suspected cocaine in Whelan's possession.
The accused driver returns to court on Friday.
He is charged with on one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree (Class "C" felony), one count of Leaving the Scene of an Incident Resulting in Death, one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (Class "D" felonies), one count of Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree, one count of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree, one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree (Class "A" misdemeanors), one count of Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree, and one count of Reckless Driving (unclassified misdemeanors under New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law) and several New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law violations.
Yolanda Wyatt described her younger brother as "loved by everybody. He had an infectious smile."
She and her sister, Vincentia Wyatt-Johnson, went door-to-door after the accident and met a woman who tried to save their brother.
"She showed us the location where his shoes and sneakers were, and then he landed in the driveway of a nurse like a half a block away and she started CPR on him," Wyatt said.
"I want justice for my brother. I really want to make sure that some precautions are taken on how people are driving. Something has to stop with this," his sister said.
Wyatt-Johnson said "he was my baby brother. We enjoyed Sci-Fi movies. When a call went out for having Bible discussions with individuals. Terrence heard that call, and he had Bible discussions with me on a weekly basis, on his lunch break where he learned as far as the Bible's hope for a better world, where people are safe, where children can play. So I really like that journey that he was undergoing, because he enjoyed it, and we were getting closer because of that."
Whelan's wife Robin shared with 2 On Your Side a letter from a friend that she said described the good man he was.
Terrence would wake up in the morning to see his kids off to school, go to work, come home to provide dinner for his family, do laundry and dishes and head out for his nightly walk. November 11th was no different than any other day.
On November 11, 2024 his children called me at 10:17 p.m. hey Kristen, is my dad at your house. I said no babe, what is going on. They said the cops were at their house asking for their parents. I asked if they wanted me to come get them and I asked if the cops were still there. They said their mamas friend was there and that the cops were still sitting outside.
I said I would try to reach out to him. I called him 4 times between 10:19-10:24pm and each call went to voicemail which never was the case. I sent a text "Hey". I called Terrence's kids back at 10:24pm and asked if his phone went to voicemail when they called and they said yes but that they did talk to their mom and she was on her way home.
My youngest daughter had gone to bed a few minutes before so I went to my other daughters room to check in and immediately noticed police lights flashing through her window from a block or two away. She said tbat they were flashing for the past 2 hrs. I told her the kids just called me and said the cops went to their house.
Little did I know.
I went back to my room, grabbed my phone and had missed a call from his kids at 10:37pm. I went to dial out but they called me a second time at 10:29pm before I could hit send.. I said hello and they so painfully said "Kristen, someone hit my dad" I said what do you mean and they cried out "My dad is dead". I realized then that the flashing lights were probably for Terrence who lives 2 blocks over.
The pain of their cry, I will never.. ever.. forget.
I am well aware of his nightly walks but I assumed he was in his vehicle because there is no way Terrence would ever be struck by a vehicle. This man didn't do any drugs or drink alcohol nor did he smoke and he was an aware, cautious type. Terrence's vices would include spending time with his people, reading, going to the movies and his nightly walks. The driver must had been flying. He was crossing the street just feet away from his home after his nightly walk.
Terrence was a bright light to our community, his family, friends and co-workers. He lived for his family with every breath and step he ever took while making time for all of us special people who had the privilege of knowing him.
Words to describe him would be kind, genuine, loving, reliable, trustworthy, honest, dedicated, hard working, humble, selfless, wise, determined, focused, care-taker, teddy bear, consistent, avid reader, forward thinker, problem solver, provider, protector, listener, extremely knowledgeable, open, healer and so much more.
We are so heartbroken