Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 19-year-old William McKee of Medina pleaded guilty before State Supreme Court Justice Russell P. Buscaglia to one count of Aggravated Vehicular Assault, a Class “C” felony. The defendant pleaded guilty to the highest charge in the indictment against him on Thursday, July 25, 2019.

On December 27, 2018 at 11:47 pm, the defendant was driving at a high-rate of speed westbound on Southwestern Boulevard in the Town of Orchard Park when he crossed the middle lane into oncoming traffic and crashed head-on with an eastbound vehicle. 

Both the defendant and the driver of the other vehicle, a 69-year-old man, were taken by ambulance to ECMC to be treated for various injuries.

The first officer to arrive at the scene smelled alcohol on the defendant’s breath and detected other signs of intoxication. At ECMC, the defendant submitted to a roadside screener, which was positive for alcohol. However, the defendant refused to provide a blood sample or submit to a chemical test. A search warrant was obtained for the defendant’s treatment blood, which was found to contain 0.21% for alcohol as well as levels of THC/marihuana that were significant for recent use.

McKee faces a maximum possible sentence of 15 years in prison when he is sentenced on Tuesday, October 8, 2019 at 9:30 a.m.

DA Flynn commends Officers Marshall McGraw and Brian Gehring of the Orchard Park Police Department for their work in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Chief Paul C. Glascott of the DA’s Vehicular Crimes Bureau.