(WNY News Now) – Buffalo – In a recent court ruling, 40-year-old Matthew J. Althoff of Amherst was sentenced by Acting Erie County Court Judge Andrew C. LoTempio. The sentence includes six months in jail followed by five years of probation. Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane had advocated for the maximum indeterminate prison term of 2 1/3 to 7 years.
On January 15, 2024, at approximately 7:21 p.m., Althoff was driving a Ford Explorer SUV westbound on Losson Road in Cheektowaga when he struck pedestrian Antwain R. Hankle, 41, who was clearing snow from his vehicle. Instead of stopping, Althoff fled the scene without notifying authorities.
Hankle was discovered injured in the roadway by an off-duty New York State trooper and was transported to ECMC, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Althoff pleaded guilty to a Class “D” felony charge of Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting Resulting in Death on May 21, 2024.
In addition to his jail time and probation, Althoff’s New York State driver’s license has been revoked. He is required to participate in a DWI Treatment Court program and will have an ignition interlock device installed in his vehicle upon release.
Acting DA Keane praised Lieutenant David Vogel and the Cheektowaga Police Department Accident Investigation Unit for their diligent work on the case. Assistant District Attorney Christine O. Murray of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau handled the prosecution.
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