Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that a jury has found 44-year-old Ronald F. Olson II of Grand Island guilty on one count of second degree murder (Class “AI” felony), four counts of first degree assault (Class “B” felony), and five counts of second degree assault (Class “D” felony). The jury returned its verdict yesterday afternoon after approximately eight hours of deliberation following a five-day trial, finding the defendant guilty on all counts.
On Monday, March 20, 2023, at approximately 5:00 a.m., the defendant approached an occupied Jeep Liberty parked at a gas station on Main Street near Winspear Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The defendant attempted to sell clothing items to the occupants of the Jeep. After the encounter, the driver of the Jeep left the parking lot and continued onto Main Street.
The defendant pursued the Jeep while driving his Chevrolet Silverado southbound down Main Street. The defendant, believing the occupants had made off with clothing he intended to sell, followed the Jeep at a high rate of speed. The defendant acted under circumstances demonstrating an abhorrent indifference to human life and recklessly conducted himself in a manner that created a serious risk of death to another person by ramming the driver’s side of the Jeep with his truck. The defendant’s actions caused the Jeep to run off the road, strike a light pole, and then strike a tree near the intersection with Benwood Avenue.
The driver of the Jeep Liberty, 18-year-old Jarel Buchanan, died at the scene of the accident. His four passengers, a 17-year-old, two 18-year-olds and a 19-year-old man, suffered various serious physical injuries but survived.
Olson faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 20, 2024. He remains incarcerated without bail.
“No one should lose their life because of a piece of clothing. This defendant’s reckless actions resulted in the death of a young man, paralyzed another young victim, and caused serious injuries to three other teenagers. Thankfully, the passengers survived this horrific accident and no one else on the road was injured that morning. I hope that Jarel Buchanan’s family and friends, as well as the surviving victims, feel that justice has been served by finding this defendant guilty on all 10 counts,” said Acting Erie County District Attorney Mike Keane.
Acting District Attorney Keane commends Detective Mark White and members of the Buffalo Police Department’s Accident Investigation Unit for their work in this investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Police Chief Paul J. Glascott of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Marino of the Felony Trials Bureau.
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