The Crash injured an 11-year-old Passenger

Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard reports his office has arrested 33-year-old Ronald Chmielewski of Gowanda following a lengthy investigation by the Sheriff’s Snowmobile and Crash Investigation units.

On January 26, 2019, Chmielewski was operating a snowmobile in the Town of Collins when he struck a tree injuring himself and an 11-year-old passenger.  Deputies and EMS personnel responded, the operator was taken to Erie County Medical Center for treatment, and the child was taken to Oishei Children’s Hospital via ambulance for treatment of multiple injuries.

The Deputies’ investigation discovered Chmielewski was impaired at the time of the crash, and on June 20, Deputies arrested him.  The defendant is charged with a felony count of vehicular assault – operating a snowmobile impaired and causing injury, as well as a misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child.

Chmielewski was processed and released with appearance tickets for a future court date.  The boy continues to recover from the crash.