Rochester, NY (Oct. 13, 2026) – Around 8 p.m. on October 13, Rochester police say Benjamin Hoyt, 47, of Rochester, was struck and killed by a vehicle on Lake Avenue.
Police said a vehicle was traveling northbound on Lake Avenue toward Ridgeway Avenue. At the same time, a pedestrian was crossing the street when he was struck. Investigators are still working to determine which direction Hoyt was crossing.
The person believed to be driving the vehicle remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators, according to police. Authorities have not confirmed how many people were inside the vehicle at the time of the crash.
Authorities do not believe drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash. Investigators said it is too early to determine whether speed or reckless driving were contributing factors.
Investigators are searching the neighborhood for surveillance video from nearby businesses and homes. They are asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has information to contact the Rochester Police Department.
This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.
What Families Can Do After a Fatal Pedestrian Crash in New York
NHTSA reported 7,080 pedestrians killed in U.S. traffic crashes in 2024. Pedestrians made up 18 percent of all traffic fatalities that year.
These steps help protect a family’s options while police investigate:
- Ask the Rochester Police Department for the crash report number and the contact for the Major Crimes Section handling the investigation.
- Ask nearby businesses and neighbors whether their cameras caught the crash, since footage is often overwritten within days.
- Send calls from insurers and adjusters to one family member, and do not give a recorded statement or sign a release before getting advice.
- Check the household’s auto policy, since no-fault benefits can apply to a pedestrian, and New York requires written notice to the no-fault insurer within 30 days, which would be November 12, 2026.
- Order several certified copies of the death certificate, since insurers, banks, and employers each ask for one.
- Keep every hospital and funeral bill in one folder, and avoid posting about the crash online.
Contact Our Rochester Pedestrian Accident Attorneys
Joe Stanley founded Stanley Law Offices in 1982, and he holds Board Certification in Civil Trial Practice from the American Board of Trial Advocacy. Our firm has represented injured people and grieving families across Upstate New York ever since.
Our Rochester pedestrian accident lawyers handle claims for people struck while walking and for families who have lost someone. The firm secured a $3.7 million wrongful death settlement in the Eleanor Brooks case.
In a pedestrian case, we move quickly to secure surveillance video before it is overwritten. We gather the police and medical records and deal with the insurers, so your family does not have to.
Rochester families facing a pedestrian death claim deserve to know who stands behind the firm they call, so here is what Stanley Law Offices offers:
- Serving Upstate New York families for 45+ years
- Joe Stanley, Board Certified in Civil Trial Practice by the American Board of Trial Advocacy
- Super Lawyers recognition for 18+ consecutive years
- 4.7-star rating across 900+ verified reviews
- Offices in Syracuse, Binghamton, Rochester, Watertown, Oneonta, and Montrose, PA
- Available 24/7
- No recovery, no fee
Families who would rather talk in person can visit our Rochester office at 510 Clinton Square, Rochester, NY 14604. Call 888-997-3889, stop by, or send the details through our contact form. Virtual consultations are also available.
