Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 37-year-old Paul Hintermeier of Cheektowaga has been sentenced by State Supreme Court Justice John L. Michalski to six years in prison.

On August 11, 2017, at around midnight, the defendant, with a BAC level of .16, twice the legal limit, was driving on Richard Drive in the Town of Cheektowaga when he ran a stop sign as he turned left onto Shanley Street, striking a bicyclist, 18-year-old Damian Garra of Cheektowaga, who later died.

Hintermeier pleaded guilty to Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree and Leaving the Scene of an Accident Resulting in Death in January 2018.

DA Flynn commends the investigative work of the Cheektowaga Police Department, including Officer Eric Jakubowicz and Lt. Steven Berecz.

Assistant District Attorney Patrick B. Shanahan prosecuted the case.