Buffalo woman charged with fatally striking victim with car following altercation

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Buffalo woman was arraigned Friday after she allegedly fatally struck a pedestrian with a car following an altercation in May, the Erie County District Attorney’s Office announced.

Officials said 21-year-old Iyanna R. Scott allegedly drove two male passengers in a Hyundai Elantra to a Walden Avenue car wash on the evening of May 19. While outside the car wash, Scott and one of the passengers allegedly got into an altercation, causing the two men to walk away.

Scott allegedly followed the two men in the Hyundai and accelerated the vehicle in their direction as they crossed Union Road. Demario Patterson, 21, was struck and eventually taken to ECMC for his injuries, where he later died, according to officials.

After allegedly striking Patterson, Scott is accused of driving away from the scene without reporting the incident to police, officials said. The Hyundai was later found on Briscoe Avenue in Buffalo.

“This is a totally senseless crime,” acting Erie County District Attorney Mike Keane said. “This defendant allegedly knew these two victims, was driving around with them prior to the crime, and then intentionally drove her vehicle toward them as they defenselessly crossed the street. My thoughts remain with the family and friends of the young man who tragically lost his life. Thankfully, the surviving victim and no one else was injured on the road that day.”

Scott was charged with one count of second-degree murder, one count of second-degree attempted murder and one count of leaving the scene of an incident without reporting resulting in death. She faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison and was held without bail.

A return court date for Scott has not yet been set.

Adam Gorski is a Buffalo native who joined the News 4 team in 2022. You can find more of his work here .