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Driver who crashed onto 33 may be tied to murder

Posted at 7:04 AM, Dec 01, 2015
and last updated 2015-12-01 07:04:17-05

The driver who crashed through a guardrail on Humboldt Parkway and landed on Rt. 33 West below may be linked to a murder earlier on Sunday.

Around 8:30 p.m., a person burst through the door of a home on Purdy Street and started shooting. A 42-year-old man who was shot was declared dead at the scene and a 24-year-old woman was taken to ECMC, where she is listed in stable condition.

Police say the pair were specifically targeted.

Shortly after the shooting, a car crashed through the guardrail and landed on Rt. 33. Police believe the two incidents may be connected.

Rt. 33 West was shut down while crews took photos of the scene and cleared debris from the roadway.

Police took one person into custody and recovered a weapon.

The crash of the vehicle has also sparked new calls for safety investigations along Rt.33 that splits Humboldt Parkway.

Common Council President Darius Pridgen tells 7 Eyewitness News he is putting together a resolution asking the NYS Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) to conduct a safety investigation to determine if the barriers are appropriate for the 21st century.

NYS Assemblymember Crystal Peoples-Stokes said she is continuing to ask NYSDOT to finish an environmental study that looks at the impact of covering the lowered areas of the Kensington with a tunnel.

This is not the first time there was a serious incident involving the guardrails along Humboldt Parkway. In 2014, Kevin Wayne Brown, 47, was killed when his car also crashed over the guardrails. It fell down onto the expressway where it burst into flames.

The mother of Brown's two children spoke to reporter Ed Reilly and said she is speaking out  and calling for changes before someone else is killed.

"Those barriers are faulty, they are fragile, pedestrians are not safe," commented Shannon Waddell-Brown.

The NYSDOT said it cannot comment on the issues until it has had time to review the full Buffalo Police report.

 

 
 

 

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