Amherst, NY (November 9, 2026) – Amherst police said a 67-year-old man from Amherst died after a vehicle struck him on Sheridan Drive. Authorities responded to the scene at Sheridan Drive at Tavistock Lane around 9:17 a.m. after receiving reports of a serious crash, police said.
According to the department, a 2022 red Toyota RAV4 driven by a 26-year-old man from Tonawanda was heading east on Sheridan Drive. The RAV4 struck the 67-year-old pedestrian, who was in the roadway attempting to cross the street, the department said.
Police, fire, and EMS personnel attempted to administer first aid after the man sustained critical injuries, according to the department. He was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after the crash, police said. The driver was not injured, according to police.
A portion of Sheridan Drive was closed for more than three hours while police investigated the scene. All roadways have since been reopened. Residents and drivers who witnessed the crash or have surveillance video footage are asked to contact the Amherst Police Department.
This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Crash in Upstate, NY
NHTSA reported 7,080 pedestrian traffic deaths across the United States in 2024. Pedestrians made up 18 percent of the year’s traffic fatalities.
A family does not have to wait for the investigation to end, and these five steps run in time order:
- Request the crash report from the Amherst Police Department and ask which officer is leading the investigation.
- Find the video before it is erased. Businesses and home doorbells along Sheridan Drive may hold footage that systems overwrite quickly. Ask that the RAV4 and its event data be preserved.
- Notify the family’s own auto insurer, and decline a recorded statement to the driver’s insurer. No-fault benefits can apply to a pedestrian struck by a car, with written notice due within 30 days, by December 9, 2026.
- Understand how fault is weighed. Where the man was crossing does not by itself decide fault, because drivers must also use due care around pedestrians. Under CPLR § 1411, each side’s share of fault is compared. A 2026 amendment can bar recovery in some motor vehicle cases when the injured person carries a large share.
- Mark the filing date. The family may have a wrongful death claim, and the estate may have a survival claim for the man’s own losses. The wrongful death deadline is two years from the death under EPTL § 5-4.1, which is November 9, 2028. Keep every funeral and medical bill.
Speak With an Upstate NY Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Stanley Law Offices stands with injured pedestrians and grieving families across Upstate New York. Our pedestrian accident attorneys serving Upstate New York handle these claims from the first insurer call to trial when an offer falls short.
We examine how the crash happened, the driver’s account, and the insurance behind the vehicle, then explain the family’s options in plain terms.
Why Upstate New York families turn to Stanley Law Offices following a pedestrian crash:
- 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
Our Buffalo office, the closest to Amherst, is at 50 Fountain Plaza, Buffalo, NY 14202. Call us, visit our office, or write to us through the contact form.
