Grand Island man receives maximum sentence for causing crash that killed teen driver & injured 4 passengers

Submitted by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office

On Tuesday, Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announced 44-year-old Ronald F. Olson, II of Grand Island was sentenced before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi to 25 years to life in prison.

On Monday, March 20, 2023, at approximately 5 a.m., the defendant approached an occupied Jeep Liberty, which was parked at a gas station on Main Street near Winspear Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The defendant was trying to sell items of clothing to the occupants of the Jeep. After the encounter, the driver of the Jeep exited the parking lot and continued drive onto Main Street.

The defendant chased after the Jeep while driving his Chevrolet Silverado southbound on Main Street. The defendant, who believed the occupants had driven off with clothing that he was attempting to sell, followed the Jeep at a high-rate of speed. The defendant, while acting under circumstances evincing a depraved indifference to human life, recklessly engaged in conduct that created a grave risk of death to another person by hitting the driver’s side of the Jeep with his truck. The defendant’s actions caused the Jeep to veer off the roadway, hit a light pole then hit a tree near the intersection of Benwood Avenue.

The driver of the Jeep Liberty, 18-year-old Jarel Buchanan, died at the scene. His four passengers, a 17-year-old male, two 18-year-old males and a 19-year-old male, suffered various serious physical injuries, but survived.

In June 2024, a jury found Olson guilty of one count of murder in the second degree (class “A-I” felony), four counts of assault in the first degree (class “B” violent felonies) and five counts of assault in the second degree (class “D” felonies). Jurors rendered their decision after approximately eight hours of deliberation following a five-day trial. On Tuesday, Olson received the maximum sentence for each of the 10 counts in the indictment, which will be served concurrently.

“As thoughtfully stated by Judge Bargnesi during the proceeding today, this case highlights how an impulsive decision can quickly destroy the lives of many people,” Keane said. “This defendant’s reckless actions resulted in the death of one young man, paralyzed another victim, and seriously injured three other teenagers. The family and friends of Jarel Buchanan and the surviving victims continue to be traumatized by this crime. I hope that they feel that justice has been served by this defendant being convicted of all charges and sentenced to the maximum term of incarceration for each count of the indictment.”

Keane commends Det. Mark White and members of the Buffalo Police Department accident investigation unit for their work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Chief Paul J. Glascott of the vehicular crimes bureau and Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Marino of the felony trials bureau.