SARDINIA, N.Y. — An 18-year-old from Buffalo died in a head-on accident Friday on State Route 16 in the Town of Sardinia, according to New York State Police.
Cameron J. Velasquez was pronounced dead at the scene. He was a freshman at Alfred State and graduated in the spring from Bishop Timon High School, according to the high school, through a statement.
State Police said the accident happened at 5:30 p.m. Friday. They say, Velasquez, who was driving north in a 2006 Jeep, crossed into the southbound lane and struck a 2013 Peterbilt flatbed tractor-trailer head-on.
Mark Pukalo spoke with 2 On Your Side about Velasquez, saying he was someone that would always bring out the good in people.
Pukalo knew Velasquez for most of his life. His son played hockey with Velasquez at Cazenovia Park since they were 10-years-old, and the two boys were roommates at Alfred State.
"His mother described him as a sponge, that we would suck the goodness - he would suck the goodness out of anybody who met him no matter if it was somebody he knew for years or somebody he just met on the street," Pukalo said.
Pukalo went on to say that Velasquez was known for his colorful suits that people would recognize him for, his goofiness and overwhelmingly kind heart.
Pukalo started a GoFundMe with the permission of Velasquez's mother. He says already the South Buffalo sports community is rallying to help the family.
"You know, the money, the value of somebody's life is priceless," Pukalo said. "But the cost of a loss should not be associated what what it's going to actually cause the financial end of it. With all the expenses associated with that. That's one less thing that Helen has to worry about. And Cameron's family has to worry about. I'm hoping that they could just give him what he deserves. And make sure he's remembered. For the person awesome person. He was."
Bishop Timon-St. Jude High School issued a news statement Saturday:
The Timon Community is mourning the loss of one of our graduates of the Class of 2019. Cameron Velasquez, a freshman at Alfred State, was driving home yesterday when he was involved in a head-on accident.
Please join us in prayer for Cam and his family, as well as for our students and recent grads, who have now lost two friends and classmates over the last 3 1/2 months.
We will hold a prayer service for Cam Velasquez '19 on Monday at 8 a.m. in the school gym. Friends and classmates are encouraged to attend.
Velasquez's funeral will be held on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Victory Basilica in Lackawanna.