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Submitted by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office
Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announced Renaiyah A. Cornelious, 32, of Buffalo, pleaded guilty on Friday afternoon before State Supreme Court Justice Paul B. Wojtaszek to one count of vehicular manslaughter in the second degree (class D felony) and one count of aggravated driving while intoxicated (class E felony under New York State Vehicle & Traffic Law). Cornelious entered a guilty plea to the two highest counts in full satisfaction of the indictment.
On the evening of Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, the defendant, while under the influence of alcohol and cannabis, with two children inside the vehicle when she hit a pedestrian at the intersection of McKinley Avenue and Lorraine Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The victim was walking a dog through the crosswalk at the time of the incident. The victim, 81-year-old Daniel H. Zuchlewski, was pronounced dead at the scene. The dog was not injured.
Cornelious faces a maximum of seven years in prison when she is sentenced. Our prosecutor requested the defendant be remanded pending sentence. She continued to be released on bail previously set at $150,000 cash or bond.
Keane commends the Buffalo Police Department accident investigation unit for its work in this investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christopher M. McCarthy and Chief Patrick B. Shanahan of the vehicular crimes bureau.
1859 Whitehaven Road, Grand Island, NY 14072
Phone: 716-773-7676
Fax: 716-773-7190
