Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces thata 19-year-old male from Williamsville was sentenced yesterday afternoon before Acting Erie County Court Judge Andrew C. LoTempio to 1 to 3 years of incarceration. Over the objection of our office and the victim’s family, the defendant was adjudicated as a youthful offender due to his age at the time of the crime. As a condition of his sentence, the defendant’s New York State driver’s license was revoked.
On Sunday, August 20, 2023, at approximately 11:50 p.m., Town of Hamburg Police responded to a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of McKinley Parkway and Quinby Drive. A Chevrolet Express van, operated by Justin Trane, was traveling northbound on McKinley Parkway when the collision occurred with a Subaru Forrester, driven by the youthful offender, as the vehicle exited a parking lot and entered the northbound lane on McKinley Drive.
Trane, the only occupant of the Chevrolet Express van, was taken by ambulance to ECMC where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries. The youthful offender was also transported to ECMC where he was treated for injuries to his head, face and pelvis. The front seat passenger of the Subaru, a 16-year-old female, was taken by ambulance to Oishei Children’s Hospital where she was treated for a concussion and lacerations. The rear passenger, a 15-year-old female, was unresponsive when paramedics arrived at the scene. The victim was transported to Oishei Children’s Hospital where she later died from the injuries. Our office will not be releasing the name of the deceased due to her age.
The investigation determined that the actions of both defendants contributed to the collision that resulted in the death of the passenger. Trane, who was under the influence of alcohol, drove through a red light the intersection at Quinby Drive. The youthful offender, who was under the influence of cannabis, was traveling southwest out of the parking lot and crossed into the northbound lane to enter the intersection. While executing a search warrant, investigators found a quantity of suspected cannabis and various drug paraphernalia inside of the Subaru.
The youthful offender, who was 18 years old at the time of the crime, pleaded guilty to one count of Vehicular Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class “C” felony), the highest sustainable charge, on May 22, 2024. Today, our prosecutor and the victim’s family stated our objection to youthful offender adjudication and requested that the court impose the maximum possible term of incarceration, which would have been up to 15 years in prison.
In August 2024, Justin T. Trane, 30, of Hamburg was sentenced to six months in jail followed by five years of probation. He pleaded guilty to one count of Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree (Class “D” felony), which was the highest sustainable charge in May 2024. As a condition of the sentence, his New York State driver’s license was revoked. If his license is restored, Trane will be required to install an ignition interlock device in his vehicle for one year.
Acting DA Keane commends the Town of Hamburg Police Department Accident Investigation Unit for their work in this investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christopher M. McCarthy of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau.