Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 63-year-old Michael Zaenglein of Elma pleaded guilty before Erie County Court Judge Michael Pietruszka to Vehicular Assault in the Second Degree, a Class “E” felony. The defendant pleaded guilty to the highest charge in the indictment against him.

The defendant admitted that on June 30, 2017, he was driving a vehicle on Clinton Road in the Town of Elma when he veered onto the shoulder of the road and hit two bicyclists. One bicyclist was in a coma for nearly a month and suffered several serious injuries, including a traumatic brain injury.

Zaenglein faces a maximum of 4 years in prison when he is sentenced on Tuesday, November 13 at 9:30 a.m. 

DA Flynn commends the Erie County Sheriff’s Office for their thorough investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Brian D. Langenfeld of the DA’s Felony Trials Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Christopher M. McCarthy of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau.