Drunk Driver Sentenced for Killing Teenage Bicyclist and Injuring Another in Lancaster

Modified: June 24, 2022 12:16pm

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6/24/2022

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 55-year-old Kevin J. Czajka of Town of Lancaster was sentenced this morning before State Supreme Court Justice Paul P. Wojtaszek to an indeterminate sentence of 1 2/3 to 5 years in prison.

On August 28, 2020, at approximately 10:00 p.m., the defendant was driving a vehicle, while under the influence of alcohol, eastbound on Pleasant View Drive in the Town of Lancaster when he hit two teenage boys who were riding their bicycles. The defendant drove off without reporting the incident. He was located a short time later by Lancaster Police officers.

Both victims were taken by ambulance to ECMC. One victim, 18-year-old Maytham Vukelic of East Aurora, died at the hospital. The second victim was hospitalized for several days for a serious physical injury.  

Czajka pleaded guilty to one count of Aggravated Vehicular Assault (Class “C” felony) and one count of Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree (Class “D” felony), the highest counts in the indictment against him, on May 31, 2022. As part of his sentence today, the defendant’s driver’s license was revoked.

DA Flynn commends the Lancaster Police Department for their work in the investigation.  

The case was prosecuted by Chief Paul J. Glascott of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau.