Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 20-year-old Ryan Stencel of Lancaster was arraigned this afternoon before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller on an indictment charging him with two counts of Criminally Negligent Homicide (Class “E” felonies).

It is alleged that on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at approximately 11:32 p.m., the defendant was driving northbound on Warner Road in the Town of Lancaster when he lost control of the vehicle between Greenbriar Drive and Pheasant Run Lane. The vehicle hit a tree and subsequently caught fire.

His two passengers, 19-year-old Makenzie Mycek and 19-year-old Molly Kaminski, died at the scene. The defendant is accused of acting with substantial and unjustifiable risk, which resulted in the deaths of his two passengers.

The defendant was taken by ambulance to ECMC where he was hospitalized for burns to his face, head, legs and hands.

Justice Boller set bail at $50,000 cash, $150,000 bond and $500,000 property. A return court date has not been scheduled at this time.

If convicted of the highest charge, Stencel faces a maximum sentence of 4 years in prison.    

DA Flynn commends Lieutenant Shaun DiMino and the Lancaster Police Department Accident Investigation for their work in this investigation as well as the Bowmansville Fire Department and Lancaster Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

These cases are being prosecuted by Chief Paul J. Glascott of the Vehicular Crimes Unit.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.