A former Gowanda resident is facing charges after being involved in an automobile accident nearly two years ago that claimed the life of one person and injured two others.

According to District Attorney Jason Schmidt, 25-year-old Milly Garcia is facing vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter, and vehicular assault charges in connection to a motor vehicle crash that occurred on Dec. 28, 2023.

According to the original police report, at around 10 p.m. Garcia was traveling on Route 39 in the town of Hanover when her vehicle crossed the center line and collided with a vehicle driven by Miranda M. Farley, 31, of Ripley. There were two passengers in the vehicle as well.

Farley died as a result of the crash. The two passengers, along with Garcia, were all transported to the Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo.

“The responding officer was a New York state trooper who communicated with Ms. Garcia and detected the smell of alcohol and there were some other signs there that were utilized so that we could obtain a blood draw from her,” Schmidt explained in a phone interview this week.

Schmidt alleges that the blood draw showed Garcia had substantial alcohol in her system, along with marijuana.

When asked why it took so long to charge Garcia, Schmidt replied, “there were some additional investigations that we wanted to take” which took longer than expected.

State Police have been serving as the lead investigators.

Schmidt added that Garcia had never been arrested in the past.

Another part of the delay was that Garcia had been in Texas when the investigation was completed, so his office had to bring her back to New York to face charges.

The next court appearance is set for Oct. 27.

Garcia has been released on $50,000 cash/$100,000 property bond.