Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane has announced that 41-year-old Anthony Rydzewski of Angola pleaded guilty Monday before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller to one count of second-degree manslaughter, a Class C felony. The defendant pleaded guilty to the highest sustainable charge.

According to Keane, on Feb. 28, at approximately 11:30 a.m., the defendant was recklessly driving at a high rate of speed northbound on Route 5 in the town of Hamburg when he caused a collision with another vehicle. The driver of the other vehicle, 37-year-old Jenny E. Zuhlke of Hamburg, died at the scene. The defendant was taken by ambulance to ECMC where he was treated for injuries.

The defendant was located in Crawford County, Pennsylvania by the US Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force where he was taken into custody on an arrest warrant. He waived extradition proceedings and was returned to Western New York by members of the Hamburg Police Department to face prosecution in April.

Rydzewski faces a maximum of 15 years in prison when he is sentenced on Aug. 30, 2024. He remains held without bail.

Keane commends the Town of Hamburg Police Department Accident Investigation Unit for their work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Bethany A. Solek of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau.