BUFFALO, N.Y. — A jury has found a Grand Island man guilty in connection with killing one person and injuring four others in a 2023 crash.
Ronald F. Olson, II, 44, was found guilty of one count of Murder in the Second Degree, four counts of Assault in the First Degree and five counts of Assault in the Second Degree. The jury deliberated for eight hours following a five-day trial.
Investigators say on March 20, 2023, Olson approached an occupied Jeep Liberty at a gas station on Main Street near Winspear in Buffalo trying to sell clothing to the people in the vehicle. After the encounter in the parking lot, the driver of the Jeep left and continued onto Main Street.
According to the Erie County District Attorney's Office, Olson chased after the Jeep in his pick-up truck. They say Olson believed the people in the Jeep had taken the clothing he was trying to sell. Investigators say Olson hit the driver's side of the Jeep with his truck, causing the Jeep to veer off the road, hit a light pole and then a tree near Main Street and Benwood Avenue
The driver of the Jeep, Jarel Buchanan, 18, died at the scene. His four passengers, a 17-year-old male, two 18-year-old males and a 19-year-old male were injured, but survived the crash.
“No one should lose their life over an article of clothing. This defendant’s reckless actions resulted in the death of one young man, caused another young victim be paralyzed and seriously injured three other teenagers. Thankfully, the passengers survived this horrific crash and no one else on the street was injured that morning. I hope that the family and friends of Jarel Buchanan as well as the surviving victims feel that justice has been served by this defendant being convicted of all 10 counts in the indictment,” said Acting Erie County District Attorney Mike Keane in a release.
Olson could face up to 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced in August. He remains held without bail.
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