Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 18-year-old Jayla L. Mueller of Colden was arraigned this morning before Amherst Town Court Justice Geoffrey Klein on three counts of Manslaughter in the Second Degree (Class “C” felonies), one count of Reckless Driving (Class “A” misdemeanor), one count of Imprudent Speed, one count of Failure to Keep Right, one count of Insufficient Tail Lamps and one count of No Headlights (Vehicle and Traffic Law violations).
It is alleged that on February 20, 2023, at approximately 11:30 p.m., the defendant was driving at a high-rate of speed on John James Audubon Parkway in the Town of Amherst when she lost control of the vehicle on the ramp onto Millersport Highway.
The defendant is accused of recklessly causing the death of her three passengers in the crash. The victims, 18-year-old Azathiel Pabon, 19-year-old Isabella French, and 20-year-old Dakota Eldridge, were ejected from the vehicle. All three victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
The defendant and a fourth passenger, a 17-year-old male, were taken by ambulance to ECMC with non-life threatening injuries.
Mueller is scheduled to return on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. for a felony hearing. She was released under supervision.
If convicted of the highest charge, she faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
DA Flynn commends Officers Bradley Canzoneri and Brian Kern as well as Captain Kevin Brown of the Amherst Police Department for their work in this investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Chief Paul J. Glascott and Assistant District Attorney Christine O. Murray of the Vehicular Crimes Unit.
As are all persons accused of a crime, the adolescent offender is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
