North Tonawanda Man Convicted of Vehicular Assault in Drunk Driving Case

Modified: June 4, 2013 2:32pm

Latest News

Redirecting to our new, updated website ...
5/17/2013

Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III announced that 31 year old Matthew Miller of 6901 Townline Road, North Tonawanda, pleaded guilty, as charged, before County Court Judge Michael D’Amico to Vehicular Assault in the First Degree. This is the highest charge for which he could have been convicted had he gone to trial. 

Miller’s guilty plea and full admission of guilt relates to an incident which occurred on March 14, 2013, at approximately 10:47 PM on Niagara Falls Blvd. in the Town of Tonawanda. At or about that time, two other motorists, including the 22 year old victim in this case, were exchanging information after a minor fender bender. As the victim was sitting in her parked vehicle, Miller’s vehicle, which was travelling 15 miles per hour (60 in a 45) over the posted speed limit, slammed into the victim, causing her to be ejected from her vehicle. The victim, a local college student, suffered several serious injuries, including broken ribs, a broken tailbone, a broken femur, a broken nose, a torn ACL, and will require future surgeries to properly treat her injuries.

Miller fled the scene but was located a short time later by officers from the Amherst Police Department.  Miller refused to submit to a provide a sample of his blood, forcing the Tonawanda Police Department and the Erie County District Attorney’s Office to get a court order compelling a blood sample, which was taken at a little over four hours (2:48 the following morning) after the crash. Miller’s blood alcohol content (BAC) at that time was 20%, which is 2-1/2 times the legal limit.

ADA Kelley Omel, Chief of the Erie County District Attorney’s Office Vehicular Crimes Bureau, successfully prosecuted the case. Lauding her efforts, as well as the investigation conducted by the Amherst and Town of Tonawanda Police Departments, DA Sedita stated: “Once again, an innocent person has suffered serious injuries because of the recklessness of a drunken idiot.”     

Miller faces a maximum prison sentence of 7 years when he is sentenced before Judge D’Amico on August 2, 2013 at 9:30 a.m.  The case was successfully prosecuted by Chief of Vehicular Crimes, Kelley A. Omel