Intoxicated Driver Pleads Guilty for Killing Dog Walker in South Buffalo

Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Renaiyah A. Cornelious, 32, of Buffalo, pleaded guilty on Friday afternoon before State Supreme Court Justice Paul B. Wojtaszek to one count of Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree (Class D felony) and one count of Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated (Class E felony under New York State Vehicle & Traffic Law).Cornelious entered a guilty plea to the two highest counts in full satisfaction of the indictment.

On the evening of Saturday, December 27, 2025, the defendant, while under the influence of alcohol and cannabis, with two children inside the vehicle when she hit a pedestrian at the intersection of McKinley Avenue and Lorraine Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The victim was walking a dog through the crosswalk at the time of the incident. The victim, 81-year-old Daniel H. Zuchlewski, was pronounced dead at the scene. The dog was not injured.

Cornelious faces a maximum of 7 years in prison when she is sentenced on Friday, August 7, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Our prosecutor requested that the defendant be remanded pending sentence. She continued to be released on bail previously set at $150,000 cash or bond.

DA Keane commends the Buffalo Police Department Accident Investigation Unit for their work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christopher M. McCarthy and Chief Patrick B. Shanahan of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau.