West Seneca man faces felony charge in deadly hit-and-run on Elmwood Avenue.
(WNY News Now) – BUFFALO, N.Y. – Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announced that 44-year-old Samuel Baer of West Seneca was arraigned yesterday before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi on an indictment charging him with one count of Leaving the Scene of an Incident Resulting in Death, a Class D felony under New York State law.
The charge stems from an incident on September 25, 2024, at approximately 10:56 p.m. when a pedestrian, 59-year-old Joseph W. Domnissey, fell onto the roadway near the 2000 block of Elmwood Avenue in North Buffalo. A driver stopped at a red light reportedly got out to assist and attempted to warn other drivers.
Baer, allegedly driving a pickup truck southbound on Elmwood Avenue, reportedly struck the victim after passing through a green light. Authorities say Baer then veered into the northbound lane, drove onto a grassy area, and continued south without stopping or contacting police.
Domnissey was transported by ambulance to ECMC, where he was later pronounced dead.
Baer was remanded without bail. A future court date has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of up to seven years in prison.
District Attorney Keane praised the Buffalo Police Department Accident Investigation Unit for their efforts in the case. The prosecution is being handled by Chief Patrick B. Shanahan of the DA’s Vehicular Crimes Bureau.
As with all criminal cases, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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