A North Tonawanda man pleaded guilty Friday to smashing into a parked car on Niagara Falls Boulevard, ejecting and seriously injuring the occupant of the vehicle.
Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III said the blood alcohol content of the driver, Matthew Miller, 31, was two and one half times the legal limit.
The 22-year-old victim suffered broken ribs, tailbone, femur and nose and a knee injury.
The incident occurred about 10:47 p.m. March 14 on Niagara Falls Boulevard in the Town of Tonawanda, when two motorists were exchanging information after a minor fender bender. As the victim was sitting in her parked vehicle, Miller’s vehicle struck her car at 60 mph, 15 mph over the posted speed limit, Sedita said. Miller fled the scene but was arrested a short time later. He refused to submit to a blood test, and a court-ordered test more than four hours after the incident showed his blood alcohol content was 0.20 percent.
Miller pleaded guilty to first degree vehicular assault, the highest charge for which he could be convicted had he gone to trial, according to Sedita. He is facing up to seven years in prison when he is sentenced Aug. 2.
“Once again, an innocent person has suffered serious injuries because of the recklessness of a drunken idiot,” Sedita said.
Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III said the blood alcohol content of the driver, Matthew Miller, 31, was two and one half times the legal limit.
The 22-year-old victim suffered broken ribs, tailbone, femur and nose and a knee injury.
The incident occurred about 10:47 p.m. March 14 on Niagara Falls Boulevard in the Town of Tonawanda, when two motorists were exchanging information after a minor fender bender. As the victim was sitting in her parked vehicle, Miller’s vehicle struck her car at 60 mph, 15 mph over the posted speed limit, Sedita said. Miller fled the scene but was arrested a short time later. He refused to submit to a blood test, and a court-ordered test more than four hours after the incident showed his blood alcohol content was 0.20 percent.
Miller pleaded guilty to first degree vehicular assault, the highest charge for which he could be convicted had he gone to trial, according to Sedita. He is facing up to seven years in prison when he is sentenced Aug. 2.
“Once again, an innocent person has suffered serious injuries because of the recklessness of a drunken idiot,” Sedita said.