Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Renaiyah A. Cornelious, 32, of Buffalo, was arraigned on Sunday morning before Buffalo City Court Judge Erin E. Hart on one count of Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree (Class D felony), two counts of Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated (Class E felony under New York State Vehicle & Traffic Law), one count of Driving While Intoxicated and one count of Driving While Impaired by Drugs/Alcohol (unclassified misdemeanors under New York State Vehicle & Traffic Law).
It is alleged that on the evening of Saturday, December 27, 2025, the defendant was operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and a drug when she hit a pedestrian on McKinley Avenue and Lorraine Avenue in the City of Buffalo. Two children were allegedly inside of the defendant’s vehicle at the time of the crash. The victim, an 80-year-old male, was walking a dog through the crosswalk at the time of the incident. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The dog was not injured.
Cornelious is scheduled to return on Friday, January 2, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. for a felony hearing. Our prosecutor requested that the defendant be remanded. At this time, she remains held on bail set at $150,000 cash or bond.
If convicted of the highest charge, Cornelious faces a maximum sentence of 7 years in prison.
DA Keane commends the Buffalo Police Department Accident Investigation Unit for their work in this investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Chief Patrick B. Shanahan of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau.
As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.