Driver under the influence of cannabis convicted in crash that killed teen

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) – The Erie County District Attorney’s Office announced that a 19-year-old Williamsville man was sentenced Tuesday in Erie County Court to one to three years in prison and had his license revoked in connection with a fatal crash on August 20, 2023, at McKinley Parkway.

He was convicted as a juvenile offender due to his age at the time of the crime. The prosecutor said prosecutors and the victim’s family objected to the juvenile offender status and requested that the court impose the maximum possible prison sentence, which would have been a maximum of 15 years in prison.

*Editor’s note: Previous stories about this accident identified the driver, but because he was convicted as a juvenile offender we will no longer identify him.*

The two-vehicle crash occurred at the intersection of McKinley Parkway and Quinby Drive just before midnight on August 20, 2023. The district attorney’s office said a Chevrolet Express van driven by Justin Trane was traveling north on McKinley Parkway when it collided with a Subaru Forester driven by the juvenile offender, left a parking lot and entered the northbound lane on McKinley.

Trane was the sole occupant of the Chevrolet Express van and was taken by ambulance to ECMC where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The juvenile offender was also transported to ECMC where he was treated for injuries to his head, face and pelvis. The front seat passenger of the Subaru, a 16-year-old female, was taken to Oishei Children’s Hospital and treated for a concussion and lacerations. The rear passenger, a 15-year-old female, was unresponsive when paramedics arrived on scene and was transported to Oishei Children’s Hospital, where she later died from her injuries.

According to the district attorney’s office, the investigation determined that the actions of Trane and the juvenile offender contributed to the crash.

The district attorney’s office said Trane was under the influence of alcohol and ran a red light at the intersection at Quinby Drive. The juvenile offender was under the influence of cannabis and as he left the parking lot, he crossed into the northbound lane to enter the intersection. Investigators found a quantity of suspected cannabis and various drug paraphernalia in the young perpetrator’s car.

The juvenile offender, who was 18 years old at the time of the crime, pleaded guilty in May to one count of vehicular manslaughter.

In August, Trane was sentenced to six months in prison, followed by five years of probation. He pleaded guilty to one count of vehicular manslaughter and his driver’s license was revoked. If his driver’s license is reinstated, he will have to install an ignition interlock device in his vehicle for one year