Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 32-year-old Sebastien Y. Lavertu of Quebec, Canada has pleaded guilty before State Supreme Court Justice John L. Michalski to Leaving the Scene of an Incident Resulting in Death.

On June 21, 2017 at about 11:50 p.m. at 6108 Broadway and Pavement Road in the Town of Lancaster, the defendant was behind the wheel of a tractor trailer when he fatally struck a pedestrian, 28-year-old Ryan Johns of Depew and drove away.

Lancaster Police used video from several sources to identify the truck in the crash.

The defendant was taken into custody when his damaged truck was spotted crossing from the Quebec border into New York State at Lake Champlain.

Lavertu will be sentenced by Justice Michalski on October 18, 2017 at 9:30 a.m.

DA Flynn credits the outstanding investigative work of the Lancaster Police Department, including Lt. Ronald Rozler, Detective Mark Fowler and Officers Shaun DiMino and Richard Albert.

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