Unlicensed Driver to Serve Prison Sentence for Leaving the Scene After Fatally Injuring Child Near Park in Sloan

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 38-year-old Kevin J. Mendola of Buffalo was sentenced this morning before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller to 2 to 4 years in prison. He was sentenced today as a second felony offender. 

On Wednesday, August 11, 2021, at approximately 5:00 p.m., the defendant was operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s license on Lovejoy Street near Griffith Park in the Village of Sloan. The defendant placed his vehicle in reverse and ran over a child and his bicycle. The child was standing with his bicycle at the time of the incident. The defendant then drove his vehicle forward and ran over the child a second time. The defendant exited his vehicle, saw the injured child, and then drove away from the scene without reporting the incident. The defendant was located nearby a short time later by police.

The victim, 10-year-old Michael “Mikey” Conklin of Sloan, was taken by ambulance to Oishei Children’s Hospital where he later died from his injuries.

Mendola pleaded guilty to one count of Leaving the Scene of an Incident Resulting in Death (Class “D” felony), one count of Criminally Negligent Homicide (Class “E” felony) and one count of Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree (unclassified misdemeanor). He pleaded guilty, as charged, to all counts in the indictment against him on Friday, March 17, 2023.

Today, Justice Boller issued final order of protections on behalf of the victim’s family.

DA Flynn commends the Cheektowaga Police Department Traffic Unit for their work in this investigation.  

The case was prosecuted by Chief Paul J. Glascott and Assistant District Attorney Christine O. Murray of the Vehicular Crimes Unit.