Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III announces that 21 year-old Carthy Johnson of 2787 Pleasant Avenue, Lakeview, pleaded guilty to Vehicular Assault in the First Degree before State Supreme Court Justice Penny M. Wolfgang.  This is a higher charge than those initially filed and the highest charge for which Smith could have been convicted had he gone to trial.   

On April 8, 2015, at approximately 9:30 pm, while driving an SUV on Route 20 at Amsdell Road in the Town of Hamburg, Johnson crossed the center line into oncoming traffic, striking three vehicles. 

Johnson clipped the first vehicle’s mirror causing minor damage but no injuries to its occupants.  Johnson nearly struck the second vehicle head-on, destroying it; again, the occupants were not physically injured.  Unfortunately, the occupant of the third vehicle struck was seriously injured.  The innocent motorist suffered has three breaks in one leg, two broken wrists, a dislocated shoulder and two spinal fractures, resulting in three surgeries. Johnson admitted he had been drinking and had had 0.23% blood alcohol content, which is nearly three times the legal limit.

Johnson faces a maximum prison sentence of seven years when he is sentenced on September 28, 2015 at 9:30 a.m. before Justice Wolfgang. 

The case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Robin J. Deubler, who is assigned to DA Sedita’s Vehicular Crimes Bureau.