Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 29-year-old Theodore Canaski of Wheatfield has pleaded guilty before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth F. Case to Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting Resulting in Serious Physical Injury. 

On September 4, 2017, at about 4:30 p.m., the defendant was driving down Ontario Street in Buffalo at a high rate of speed when he struck a 55-year-old woman as she was trying to cross the street. Canaski briefly slowed down after the impact, but then continued to drive, making several quick turns and evading a civilian driver who was trying to follow the vehicle. 

Surveillance video helped police identify Canaski’s car and he was arrested three hours later. 

Canaski faces a maximum of four years in prison when he is sentenced by Judge Case on December 12, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. Canaski was paroled on an Attempted Burglary conviction when the crash took place and could face additional prison time for the parole violation. 

DA Flynn commends Buffalo Police Department Detectives Timothy J. Salamone and John G. Paradowki for their outstanding investigative work. 

Assistant District Attorney Christopher M. McCarthy prosecuted the case.