Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - "When I learned about this terrible crash, it struck me just how random this is. It can happen to any of us, anywhere."
John Sullivan, Erie County's STOP DWI Director, reacted Monday to the
two-vehicle crash Saturday night on Route 5 in the Town of Hamburg that killed 8-year-old Thomas Ross of Blasdell.
Hamburg Police arrested 52-year-old Markus Genovese of Angola, who initially fled the scene. He was tracked down in a nearby backyard.
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Genovese is charged with vehicular manslaughter, felony aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, DWI, leaving the scene of a fatal auto accident and numerous other traffic charges.
Genovese had previously been charged with driving without a license. A report from 2018 showed his license had previously been suspended or revoked over a dozen times.
"It doesn't surprise me that a previous offender caused this crash. Repeat offenders are over represented in fatal crashes," said Sullivan.
He also added that, "He received all of the sanctions that are available to a judge. But unless the person is in jail, and they have access to a vehicle, and to alcohol, there really is no barrier to someone going out and committing this crime again."
Sullivan explained that there is a federal push to get ignition interlock devices included in new vehicles. But not anytime soon. The goal is to have them in vehicles within the next two decades.
While saying that this is no day to talk about progress in the fight against DWI, he said there has been much progress.
"The pandemic reduced the amount of people driving drunk. There are approximately 1,800 DWI arrests in Erie County each year. Prior to the pandemic, there were about 2,500 a year," Sullivan detailed.
He said it takes a tragedy such as the one over the weekend to remind us that there is always more work to do.
Thomas' mom, Heather Van Elk, wrote about her beloved son and thanked first responders for their efforts and compassion. There is a GoFundMe Page raising money for Van Elk's family HERE.