Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 27-year-old Edward J. Kuebler, III of Town of Tonawanda has been sentenced by Erie County Court Judge Kenneth F. Case to 1-3 years in prison. In addition, his driver’s license has been revoked.

In October 2017, the defendant pleaded guilty to Leaving the Scene of an Accident Resulting in Serious Physical Injury, a felony.

Kuebler was charged following an investigation into a hit-and-run crash that occurred on June 13, 2017 on Grand Island. The defendant struck 54-year-old Dana Papaj of Grand Island who was walking her dog along the side of East River Road. Surveillance video from a nearby home showed that at the time of the collision, Ms. Papaj had followed her dog up onto a lawn. After the defendant struck the victim in the head with the side mirror of his pick-up truck, he proceeded to drive away from the scene.

Ms. Papaj suffered a traumatic brain injury and multiple broken bones. She spent several months in the traumatic intensive care unit at ECMC. She continues to recover from her injuries. 

DA Flynn commends New York State Police for its thorough investigative work.

Chief Kelley A. Omel of the DA’s Vehicular Crimes Bureau prosecuted the case.