Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that James E. Clarke, 32, of Buffalo, was sentenced this afternoon before State Supreme Court Justice Debra L. Givens to an indeterminate sentence of 3.5 to 7 years in state prison. Per our request, the Judge also imposed an indefinite lifetime license revocation.
On the evening of Saturday, December 27, 2025, the defendant was operating a vehicle while under the combined influence of alcohol and a drug when he hit a pedestrian in the crosswalk at the intersection of Goodrich Street and Ellicott Street in the City of Buffalo. The victim, 45-year-old Wendy Jasper, was taken by ambulance to Buffalo General Hospital where she died from the injuries.
In August 2026, Clarke pleaded guilty to three counts of Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree (Class D felonies). Clarke entered a guilty plea to the charges in full satisfaction of the indictment.
DA Keane commends Officer Corey Krug and members of the Buffalo Police Department Accident Investigation Unit for their work in this investigation as well as victim advocate Cathy Mitchell.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christine O. Murray of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau.