BUFFALO, N.Y. — Mohammed Tanbir,26, is accused of driving an SUV with illegal tint on the night 21-year-old Sydney Lohr was hit and killed on Elmwood Avenue. Her family is speaking out through their attorney, Michael O'Connor.
The family disagrees with the Erie County District Attorney's assessment which "determined that the tinted windows did not contribute to the collision that resulted in the death of the victim."
In fact, in a statement, Attorney Michael O'Connor said while the family is grateful for the Buffalo Police Department's and the District Attorney's efforts, they disagree with their assessment.
"To the contrary, our investigation has revealed that Tanbir's illegal window tints played a significant role," O'Connor said in a statement to 2 On Your Side.
According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, the windshield, and front and side windows cannot block more than 30% of sunlight.
The DMV does allow for an exemption due to certain medical conditions.
The alleged driver, Tanbir, had an exemption for 2020, 2021, and 2022 but investigators found that the documents filed to get it allegedly had fake doctor signatures.
Given the District Attorney's Office assessment, Tanbir was only arraigned Friday on three felony counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument for the alleged fake signatures.
Tanbir was charged by Buffalo Police with a violation for failure to use due care near a pedestrian according to O'Connor, the attorney for Sydney Lohr's family.
O'Connor said those charges are still pending however and that a January city court appearance was adjourned and has not been rescheduled.