10-year-old boy from Niagara County died after snow pile collapsed on Wednesday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 March 2017 at 12:10 pm

Ben Wasik

PENDLETON – A 10-year-old boy who was out playing in the snow on Wednesday died after a snow pile collapsed on him, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department is reporting.

Ben Wasik was digging a tunnel in the snow at a farm at Aiken Road when the snow pile collapsed at about 3:30 p.m. He was transported by Twin City Ambulance to Millard Filmore Suburban Hospital where he was pronounced deceased, the Sheriff’s Department reported.

Sheriff James R. Voutour held a press conference at 11:30 a.m. at the Sheriff’s Office in Lockport. Voutour said the death was accidental by asphyxiation.

Ben was a fourth-grader at Starpoint. Ben was with parents who became worried when they didn’t see him after a few minutes, Voutour said.

Ben’s father was plowing the driveway, and warned his son to stay away from the steep snowpile, Voutour said.

“Ben was a typical 10-year-old who loved being on the farm,” Vontour said.”He was a kid who loved life, who always wanted to be in the outdoors.”

First responders were on scene within a few minutes and performed CPR.

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