Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 26-year-old Zaire N. Pittman, formerly of Cheektowaga, was sentenced this morning before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to one year in jail. The defendant’s driver’s license was revoked as part of his sentence today.

On Friday, May 7, 2021, at approximately 11:30 p.m., the defendant was driving a vehicle, while under the influence of cannabis, when he hit a bicyclist on East Ferry Street near Wohlers Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The victim, 54-year-old Carolyn Carter, died at the scene.

Pittman pleaded guilty to one count of Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree (Class “D” felony) and one count of Driving While Ability Impaired by a Drug (Class “A” misdemeanor). The defendant pleaded guilty to the highest count in the indictment against him on November 14, 2022.

Today, prosecutors requested that the Court impose a state prison sentence.

DA Flynn commends the Buffalo Police Department Accident Investigation Unit for their work in this investigation.  

The case was prosecuted by Chief Paul J. Glascott and Assistant District Attorney Christopher M. McCarthy of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau.