GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. — A Grand Island man received the maximum sentence for a fatal car crash that occurred in March of 2023.
Ronald F. Olson II, 44, was sentenced to 25-years to life in prison. A jury found Olson 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.
Investigator say on March 20, 2023, Olsen approached a Jeep Liberty around 5 a.m. that was parked at a gas station on Main Street in the City of Buffalo. When he approached the car, he had been attempting to sell clothes to the occupants in it.
Thinking that the driver of the Jeep had taken his clothing and driven off with it, Olsen decided to follow them in his Chevrolet Silverado at a high rate of speed southbound down Main Street.
Olson had followed the Jeep with an attitude to cause harm and reckless nature. He hit the driver's side of the Jeep with his truck causing the Jeep to veer off the road, hit a light pole, and a tree near the intersection of Benwood Avenue.
The driver of the Jeep who has been identified as 18-year-old Jarel Buchanan, died at the scene. The four other occupants were a 17-year-old male, two 18-year-old males, and a 19-year-old male, who all suffered various serious physical injuries, but survived.
“As thoughtfully stated by Judge Bargnesi during the proceeding today, this case highlights how an impulsive decision can quickly destroy the lives of many people. This defendant’s reckless actions resulted in the death of one young man, paralyzed another victim and seriously injured three other teenagers. The family and friends of Jarel Buchanan and the surviving victims continue to be traumatized by this crime. I hope that they feel that justice has been served by this defendant being convicted of all charges and sentenced to the maximum term of incarceration for each count of the indictment,” said Acting Erie County DA Mike Keane in a statement.
