+70
°
F
+74°
+58°
Niagara Falls
Thursday, 16
See 7-Day Forecast
Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
Submitted by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office
Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announced James E. Clarke, 32, of Buffalo, pleaded guilty on Monday morning before State Supreme Court Justice Debra L. Givens to three counts of vehicular manslaughter in the second degree (class D felonies). Clarke entered a guilty plea to the charges in full satisfaction of the indictment.
On the evening of Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, the defendant was operating a vehicle while under the combined influence of alcohol and a drug when he hit a pedestrian in the crosswalk at the intersection of Goodrich and Ellicott streets in the City of Buffalo. The victim, 45-year-old Wendy Jasper, was taken by ambulance to Buffalo General Hospital where she died from the injuries.
Clarke faces a maximum of seven years in prison when sentenced Monday, Sept. 14. He remains held without bail.
Keane commends officer Corey Krug and members of the Buffalo Police Department accident investigation unit for their work in this investigation, as well as ECDA victim advocate Cathy Mitchell.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christine O. Murray of the vehicular crimes bureau.
1859 Whitehaven Road, Grand Island, NY 14072
Phone: 716-773-7676
Fax: 716-773-7190
