Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 18-year-old Jayla L. Mueller of Colden was arraigned this morning before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan on three counts of Manslaughter in the Second Degree (Class “C” felonies) and one count of Reckless Driving (Class “A” misdemeanor).
It is alleged that on February 20, 2023, at approximately 11:30 p.m., the defendant was driving at a high-rate of speed on John James Audubon Parkway in the Town of Amherst when she lost control of the vehicle on the ramp onto Millersport Highway.
The defendant is accused of recklessly causing the death of her three passengers in the crash. The victims, 18-year-old Azathiel Pabon, 19-year-old Isabella French, and 20-year-old Dakota Eldridge, were ejected from the vehicle. All three victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
The defendant and a fourth passenger, a 17-year-old male, were taken by ambulance to ECMC where they were both treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Mueller is scheduled to return on Tuesday, August 29, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. for further proceedings. She continues to be released under supervision.
If convicted of the highest charge, Mueller faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
DA Flynn commends Officers Bradley Canzoneri and Brian Kern as well as Captain Kevin Brown of the Amherst Police Department for their work in this investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Chief Paul J. Glascott and Assistant District Attorney Christine O. Murray of the Vehicular Crimes Unit.
As are all persons accused of a crime, the offender is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.