Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Carmen Martin, 36, of Buffalo, was sentenced this morning before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan to 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison. In addition to receiving the maximum sentence for the highest count, her New York State driver’s license was revoked.
On Friday, June 17, 2022, at approximately 8:50 p.m., the defendant was driving westbound on South Park Avenue when she hit a bicyclist from behind near the Seneca Buffalo Creek casino. The victim, a 32-year-old woman, was taken by ambulance to ECMC where she was treated for a head injury and broken bones, including multiple leg fractures.
After hitting the first bicyclist, the defendant continued to drive her vehicle westbound on South Park Avenue. The defendant hit two more bicyclists from behind near Columbia Street before crashing her sedan into an unoccupied, parked vehicle. The second victim, a 27-year-old female, was also taken by ambulance to ECMC where she was treated for a head injury and a broken pelvis. The third victim, 29-year-old Sara Rogers, was transported by ambulance to Buffalo General Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
In March 2025, a jury found Martin guilty of one count of Criminally Negligent Homicide (Class “E” felony) and two counts of Assault in the Third Degree (Class “A” misdemeanors). Jurors rendered their decision after approximately six hours of deliberation following a seven-day trial. She was held without bail pending sentence.
DA Keane commends the Buffalo Police Department Accident Investigation Unit for their work in this investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Chief Paul J. Glascott of the Justice Courts Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Kristen S. Fischer of the Felony Trials Bureau.