Woman admits to vehicular manslaughter in drunk driving incident

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Cheektowaga woman has pleaded guilty for killing another driver while drunk driving on Transit Road in February, the Erie County District Attorney’s Office said Wednesday.

Alondra Ramirez-Santiago, 24, was driving under the influence of alcohol when she caused a crash with another vehicle on Transit between Cloverleaf Drive and Rehm Road in Cheektowaga on the evening of Feb. 26. She was driving at a high rate of speed without headlights on.

The driver, 51-year-old Jennifer Hylkema of Lockport, died at the hospital. Hylkema’s son was treated and released from ECMC. Ramirez-Santiago was also taken to ECMC to be treated for injuries.

She pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated vehicular homicide and one count of second-degree vehicular manslaughter.

She faces up to 25 years in prison when she is sentenced on Sep. 23. Prosecutors requested that she be held pending sentencing, but she was released on bail.

Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here .