Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Flaherty, Jr. announces that 26-year-old Sarah Skotnicki of Depew pleaded guilty to Criminally Negligent Homicide, a Class “E” Felony before Justice John Michalski in State Supreme Court.

On September 9, 2015 at 11:29 a.m., Skotnicki was driving on French Road in the Village of Depew when her pickup crossed the double yellow line and struck head-on a vehicle driven by 72-year old Carol Dion of Depew, killing her.

Skotnicki, seen driving erratically before the crash, was going in excess of 72 miles an hour in a 30 mile per hour zone when her pickup slammed into Dion’s car.  At the time of the collision, Skotnicki was under the influence of difloroethane, a chemical found in Endust, an electronics cleaner that she used in a process called “huffing”, the inhaling of volatile substances to get high.  The product was stolen from the Target on Walden Avenue prior to the crash.

23-year old Katrina Dion of Depew, Dion’s granddaughter, was a passenger in the car and was injured.  The two were coming home from a doctor’s appointment when the crash occurred.  The impact from the crash was so powerful, the engine in Dion’s Ford Fusion was forced from the vehicle and a tire fell off.

Skotnicki, who broke her leg and foot in the crash, remains at the Erie County Holding Center in Buffalo without bail.

Sentencing is set for Thursday, April 21, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. in Justice Michalski’s court.

Skotnicki could receive a maximum sentence of up to 4 years in state prison.