Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 63-year-old Michael Zaenglein of Elma has been sentenced by Erie County Court Judge Michael Pietruszka to four months of weekend incarceration and 5 years of probation. Also, the defendant’s driver’s license was revoked for a minimum of 1 year.

The defendant admitted that on June 30, 2017, while under the influence of prescription morphine and diazepam, he veered while driving on Clinton Road in the Town of Elma. While driving on the shoulder of the road, he hit two bicyclists with his vehicle. One bicyclist was in a coma for nearly a month and suffered several serious injuries, including a traumatic brain injury.

Zaenglein pleaded guilty to Vehicular Assault in the Second Degree, a Class “E” felony in September 2018. The defendant pleaded guilty to the highest charge in the indictment against him.

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.