Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - A 19-year-old Williamsville man was sentenced to 1-to-3 years of incarceration for his role in a deadly crash near the Hamburg Fairgrounds last year. He was sentenced as a youthful offender because of his age at the time of the crash.
Dylan Wiza, who was 18-years-old at the time of the crime, pleaded guilty to one count of Vehicular Manslaughter in the First Degree this past May. The Erie County District Attorney's Office says it and the victim's family stated objections 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.
As a condition of his sentence, Wiza's New York State driver's license was revoked.
Just before midnight on Aug. 20, 2023, Hamburg Police responded to the crash at McKinley and Quinby. A van driven by 30-year-old Justin Trane of Hamburg was on McKinley when his vehicle collided with a car driven by the youthful offender as he was pulling out of the parking lot and onto McKinley.
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 at the intersection on Quinby Drive.
Trane was the only occupant of the van and was treated at Erie County Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries.
Wiza, 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.
Wiza was also transported to ECMC, where he was treated for injuries to his head, face and pelvis. His front seat passenger, a 16-year-old female, was taken 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 and rushed to Oishei Children's Hospital, where she later died from the injuries.
In August 2024, Trane 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 As a condition of the sentence, his New York State driver's license was revoked.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.
