Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Jennifer A. Ortiz, 57, of Cheektowaga, was arraigned on Sunday morning before Amherst Town Court Justice Ann M. Nichols on one count of Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree, one count of Leaving the Scene of an Incident Resulting in Death (Class D felonies) and one count of Driving While Intoxicated (unclassified misdemeanor under New York State Vehicle & Traffic Law).
It is alleged that on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at approximately 6:00 p.m., the defendant was driving a vehicle southbound on Kensington Avenue in the Town of Amherst when she hit a pedestrian near the intersection of Harlem Road. The victim, a 70-year-old woman, was pronounced dead at the scene. The defendant is accused of driving while under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene without reporting the incident to police. She was later arrested at her residence.
Ortiz is scheduled to return on Friday, December 26, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. for a felony hearing. Our prosecutor requested that the defendant be remanded. She was released on bail set at $25,000 cash, $50,000 bond or $250,000 partially secured bond.
If convicted of the highest charge, Ortiz faces a maximum sentence of 7 years in prison.
DA Keane commends the Amherst Police Department for their work in this ongoing investigation and the Cheektowaga Police Department for their assistance.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Mitchell T. Schoellkopf of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau.
As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.