Teen pleads guilty for recklessly killing 4 passengers by crashing stolen vehicle on Kensington Expressway

Submitted by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced a 16-year-old male from Buffalo pleaded guilty this morning before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan, a designated Youth Part Judge, to four counts of manslaughter in the second degree (class “C” felonies), one count of assault in the first degree (class “B” violent felony) and one count of criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree (class “D” felony). The adolescent offender pleaded guilty to the highest counts in the indictment with respect to each victim.

On Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, at approximately 6:45 a.m., the adolescent offender was operating a vehicle, without the owner’s consent, on the inbound Kensington Expressway when he caused a crash near the entrance to the westbound Scajaquada Expressway. The vehicle, a Kia Sportage, had been reported stolen earlier that morning from Marine Drive in the City of Buffalo. All five passengers were ejected from the vehicle upon impact.

The adolescent offender recklessly caused the death of four passengers. Three of the passengers, a 17-year-old male, 16-year-old male and a 14-year-old female, were pronounced dead at the scene. A fourth passenger, a 19-year-old male, died at ECMC.

The fifth passenger, a 14-year-old female, was treated at ECMC and released from the hospital. She continues to recover from serious physical injuries. The adolescent offender was treated for minor injuries and released from the hospital.

The adolescent offender is scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday, Aug. 17. If adjudicated as a youthful offender, he faces a maximum sentence of 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison. If youthful offender status is denied, he could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison. He was remanded to the custody of the Erie County Youth Services Center.

DA Flynn commends Buffalo Police Department accident investigation unit for its work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Chief Paul J. Glascott of the vehicular crimes unit, Assistant District Attorney Lucas Fromen of the justice courts bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Christine O. Murray of the vehicular crimes unit.