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Police update investigation into carjacking; fatal pedestrian crash in Tonawanda

Officers believe a car chase that began in Hamburg ended in Tonawanda on Monday night.

TONAWANDA, N.Y. — The City of Tonawanda Police are providing more details into a carjacking and fatal pedestrian crash that occurred Monday evening. 

City of Tonawanda Police Patrol Captain Kevin Ulmer says they received a transfer call from the Town of Tonawanda Police just after 8pm for what they originally thought was a stabbing. Their investigation found it was not a stabbing. They did learn that police in Hamburg attempted to stop a vehicle in their jurisdiction, but when the suspect vehicle failed to stop, they terminated their pursuit of that vehicle near base of the Skyway. 

That vehicle was then alleged to have hit a vehicle on Delaware Avenue in the Town of Tonawanda. The driver of the second vehicle followed the fleeing vehicle into the City of Tonawanda, according to police. 

The suspect vehicle is then alleged to have hit a pedestrian at a high rate of speed. The pedestrian was crossing the street on Delaware Street in the City of Tonawanda. Police say the pedestrian later died of their injuries. Police are not releasing the name of the victim until all family is notified. 

The suspect vehicle then continued on Delaware and rear-ended a vehicle at Delaware and Broad streets. The driver of the vehicle that was hit, pulled over and got out of their vehicle to exchange information. The driver of the suspect vehicle allegedly jumped into the victim's car and fled the area, going over the bridge into North Tonawanda. He is accused of hitting another vehicle and tried to take the vehicle as well before police were able to take him into custody. 

The suspect driver is identified as Mark Whalen, 31, of Hamburg. He is facing several charges including: Manslaughter in the Second Degree, Grand Larceny, Reckless Endangerment, Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Accident, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance. He is also facing several vehicle and traffic violations. 

Captain Ulmer says they don't know why Whalen would not stop.  He says Whalen passed the field sobriety tests. He is currently in custody awaiting his arraignment. 

"I've been doing this job for over 20 years now and I've never responded to a scene of this magnitude so it absolutely shakes the foundation of the city. It's absolutely tragic to an innocent bystander just walking across the street,"  Captain Ulmer said.

Captain Ulmer says that Whalen had a female passenger in his vehicle.  She had to be extricated and was taken to ECMC.  Her condition is unknown at this time. 

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