EAST AURORA, N.Y. (WKBW) — 19-year-old Jett Hamann died after being hit by a train while on his way to work in East Aurora. The community has already raised more than $6,500 to support the family.

“It’s hard for him not to grow up and be the person I knew he would be,” Jett’s father, Dejon Hamann, said.

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Dejon told me his son is the chef at Left Coast Taco in East Aurora. Jett was called into work early Wednesday, but instead of driving, he walked to work with his headphones on.

Jett followed a route that ended up on the train tracks. but it never worked.

“He was more than just my son, he was my best friend,” Dejon said.

Jett graduated from Springville-Griffith Institute and the culinary arts program at the Wallace D. Ormsby Education Center in 2023.

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She loved cooking so much that Left Coast Taco wasn’t her only thing.

Jett and Dejon were a father-son duo who ran Aurora Bagels from their home. Dejon told me that he will continue his passions under a new name.

“I’m going to rebrand it in his name with something like ‘Jett’s,'” Dejon said. “For him, I think it feels good energy-wise. It represents his spirit and joy.

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The bagel shop has been closed all week, but Dejon said he hopes to reopen Sunday.

In the meantime GoFundMe started to support Jett’s familyIt raised more than $6,500 in just two days.

A memorial service will be held Thursday at 5 p.m. at 42 North in East Aurora.