Local News
NORTH TONAWANDA: Drunken driver takes deal in fatal crash
A teen accused of killing her boyfriend in a drunken driving crash in North Tonawanda last spring took a plea deal Wednesday in Niagara County Court.
Ashley M. Sullivan, 17, of Linden Avenue, pleaded guilty to DWI and vehicular manslaughter before Judge Matthew Murphy. The deal voids her right to a trial by jury and reduces the original charges against Sullivan, eliminating among other things two manslaughter charges.
She faces a maximum of four years in prison.
Murphy told Sullivan, who stood solemnly in plain clothes beside her attorney, Glen Murray, that he would consider statements by family members on both sides when deciding on the sentence. At a minimum, she faces 16 months behind bars.
Sullivan’s passenger, boyfriend Alex Rozicki, was killed when her car crashed into a four-foot square brick pillar in front of Deerwood golf course at 2:20 a.m. May 31. Sullivan was treated for minor injuries at DeGraff Memorial Hospital, where she submitted a blood sample.
In court Wednesday, county prosecutors said a blood test revealed Sullivan had a blood alcohol content of 0.13 percent.
As a prosecutor read a recap of the fateful scenario before the court attended by many of the victims relatives, he said Sullivan was traveling an estimated 56 mph along Sweeney St., which is posted as 30 mph. She began drifting right before over correcting and slamming into the pillar on the passenger side, killing Rozicki.
As part of the deal, Sullivan will not be eligible for youthful offender status. Before Murphy questioned her to establish that she was of sound mind in accepting the deal, Murray said: “My client intends to accept responsibility ...”
She admitted being drunk after leaving a party and losing control of the vehicle.
Sentencing has been scheduled for Jan. 27, at 1:30 p.m. back in county court.
Contact reporter Neale Gulley at 693-1000, ext. 114.
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