Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that 39-year-old Mario V. Garcia of Springville pleaded guilty this afternoon before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi to one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree (Class “C” felony).
On Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at approximately 3:20 p.m., the defendant, while driving a pickup truck southbound on Vaughn Street (Route 240) in the Town of East Concord, was involved in a road rage-incident with another driver. The victim, who was also driving a pickup truck, pulled off onto the side of the road on Route 240 south of Davis Hill Road. The defendant pulled off to the side of the road behind the victim’s vehicle.
The victim exited his vehicle and walked toward the front of the defendant’s vehicle. The defendant recklessly caused the death of the victim by hitting the victim with his pickup truck. The victim, 64-year-old Andrew J. Mikula of Lancaster, died at the scene. The defendant drove to his home after the incident where he called 911.
Garcia faces a maximum of 15 years in prison when he is sentenced on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. He was held without bail pending sentence.
Acting DA Keane commends Sgt. Amy Parisi, Deputy Timothy Christian, Deputy Simon Biegasiewicz, and Deputy Trevor Williams of the Erie County Sheriff’s Office Crash Investigation Unit for their work in this investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Chief Paul J. Glascott of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau.
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