BY JOHN J. HOPKINS AND PAUL OLCZAK
john.hopkins@lockportjournal.com
TOWN OF TONAWANDA — Town police continue to investigate a Wednesday morning accident that killed a 97-year-old pedestrian who was crossing Parker Boulevard beneath the Interstate 290 overpass.
Alfonsas Sakavicius, 26 Idlewood Drive, Town of Tonawanda, was crossing the street at 11:33 a.m. when he was struck by a vehicle operated by Jean Rohrer, 81, 925 Woodstock Ave., also in the town, police said.
“He was crossing Parker under the overpass, maybe 20 or 30 feet from the stop sign,” said Assistant Police Chief Jerome C. Uschold.
The stop sign is where Brompton Road and Woodstock intersect with Parker, just north of the overpass. There is no cross walk underneath the 290.
Few details of the accident have been released by town police, but the department reported that Sakavicius died at the scene.
An autopsy was scheduled for today.
Norm and Evelyn Plowe, who have lived in the neighborhood for 45 years, were walking near the accident scene Wednesday evening and said they knew Sakavicius.
“He lived here a long time,” said Norm, adding Sakavicius moved in after he and his wife had already settled in the area. “He walked a lot and was in great shape.”
Plowe said Sakavicius was known to walk to a Wilson Farms store on Brighton Road, about a mile from his home.
Sakavicius, Plowe said, had owned apartments in Amherst, near Niagara Falls Boulevard. He recalled helping Sakavicius build concrete steps back in the late 1970s.
“He didn’t hear very well,” Plowe added.
The Plowes said Sakavicius has a wife. Although she didn’t know the family very well, Evelyn said, “They were very nice people.”
Town police say early indications do not point to any criminal charges. The department will consult with the Erie County District Attorney’s office before making a final determination.
Contact editor John Hopkins at 693-1000, ext. 150.
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