‘He meant everything’: 7-year-old boy dies in crash on Broadway in Lancaster

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A 7-year-old boy died in a single-car crash on Broadway in Lancaster on Tuesday afternoon, according to police.

Police reported to the area of Broadway near Bowen Road and Towne Square Drive around 2:50 p.m. Tuesday, where a car had gone off the road and hit a tree. The child, identified as Noah Whitmore, was transported to the hospital and was pronounced dead.

Whitmore was a second-grader at Cayuga Heights Elementary School. In a statement, the Interim Superintendent of Depew Union Free Schools Jeffrey Rabey gave his condolences to the family and said a crisis response team is available for students and staff.

A few people stopped by the scene on Wednesday to place a teddy bear and flowers. Whitmore’s mother Carly Benavides created a Facebook group for people to share photos and memories of Whitmore.

“It would mean more than you can imagine to be able to see and treasure the moments of his sweet but short life, so we can be reminded of how precious life is, and how we should never take a single moment for granted,” she said in a message on Facebook.

Whitmore is also remembered by his father, 5-year-old sister Lilah and grandfather, Elias Benavides, who said he was a bright and funny boy who was full of laughs.

“He meant everything, absolutely everything, he does,” Elias said. “He is just [a] really great kid.”

Carly received the call at her job as an registered nurse at Buffalo General Medical Center and immediately called Elias.

“Inside I know it is breaking her heart much more than it breaks my heart,” he said. “I’m just thankful that we get to say goodbye to the way we knew him, and that he wasn’t mangled, he was spared that. I need silver linings in this and that has to be a silver lining.”

A homeowner and business owner in the area told WIVB News 4 on Wednesday that the nearby traffic is dangerous, adding that they’ve both seen many accidents there.

Police said a 29-year-old male driver of the car is cooperating with the investigation and no charges have been filed as of Wednesday morning.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact Lancaster police at (716) 683-2800 ext. 223.

A GoFundMe to support Benavides and Whitmore’s family can be found here. There will be a vigil to remember Whitmore at 7:15 p.m. Thursday at 5849 Broadway. The family said all are welcome.

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Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here.

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