‘He chose to kill my husband’ Wife of fatal hit-and-run victim speaks out
TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) – On Monday night, 40-year-old Terrence Wyatt was killed after a man struck him with a car on Delaware Street in the city of Tonawanda. Now, his family is calling for justice.
Robin Wyatt, wife of Terrence Wyatt, described her husband as a bright light in all lives he was a part of.
“He was a father to kids who didn’t have dads,” said Wyatt. “He was just the most genuine person I’ve ever known.”
Wyatt says Monday started off like any other day. She was at school and decided to stay late that night. She explained how she would usually hear some sort of communication from her husband, but instead it was radio silence.
“I called his phone a whole bunch of times and he didn’t answer,” said Wyatt. “Then I got a call from my daughter saying the police were here.”
Victim of fatal Tonawanda hit-and-run identified, Hamburg man charged
After arriving home, Wyatt was informed by police her husband’s life had been taken.
Police say 31-year-old Mark Whalen of Hamburg hit the father of six while he was crossing the street. This was after Whalen allegedly led police on a pursuit, hit other vehicles and kept on driving.
“Mark Whalen had thirty minutes to make his decision from Hamburg to Tonawanda and he chose to kill my husband,” said Wyatt emotionally.
Since Monday night, Wyatt says she goes through waves of emotions. She says in the midst of all of this, she’s trying to be a shoulder to cry on for her children who are distraught they will never see their father again.
“I go through periods of anger, sadness, rage, numbness,” Wyatt explained. “It’s a roller-coaster of emotions.”
Wyatt says the death of her husband has taken an immense toll on her family. They are already in the process of packing up to move away from the scene of the tragedy.
“We can’t be 100 feet from where Terrence had passed,” said Wyatt. “It’s devastating to walk out the door and turn my head to my left and constantly have that repeat.”
Whalen is due back in court on Friday and Wyatt says she will be in attendance. Getting justice for Terrence is top of mind as the grieving process is just beginning for the family.
If convicted of the highest charge, second-degree manslaughter, Whalen faces a maximum of 15 years in prison. Wyatt says she never wants to see Whalen walk free again and will be speaking with the district attorney at Friday’s hearing.
Anyone with information, video or witnesses are asked to contact police at (716) 692-2121 ext. 304 or ext. 0.
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Trina Catterson joined the News 4 team in 2024. She previously worked at WETM-TV in Elmira, a sister station of WIVB. See more of her work here.
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