BUFFALO, N.Y. — A 25-year-old Buffalo woman was arraigned Wednesday for allegedly hitting a bicyclist while driving a pickup truck through a protest in Niagara Square back in September.
It's alleged that on September 23 around 8:45 p.m., Joanna Gollnau recklessly drove a pickup truck through Niagara Square during a demonstration in front of Buffalo City Hall. Gollnau allegedly struck a bicyclist there, 59-year-old Karen Huffman.
Erie County D.A. John Flynn says Gollnau got out of the car and checked to see if Huffman was okay, but drove away because some protestors were threatening her.
"She left the scene at that point and went about a block or two and then pulled over again. That's when she called 911. So she did pull over, she did stop, she did call 911 right away. So to be fair to her, I'll give her credit for that, but obviously I cannot give her credit for her alleged actions and recklessly driving through that crowd," Flynn said.
According to Flynn, Huffman was taken to the hospital to be treated for her injuries and does have some mobility issues.
At the time of the incident, Gollnau was only given an appearance ticket.
Flynn says it's a lot like an officer giving someone a speeding ticket but that it shouldn't be happening for felonies.
"The same thing is happening on a D Felony, where someone commits a D Felony of reckless endangerment, where they run over a girl," Flynn said. "(Then the officer writes a ticket) and boom, boom, boom, there you go. Come back in two months. That's a problem. That's what I want changed now."
Flynn says he plans to bring the issue to the state legislature is back in session in January.
Gollnau has been charged with one count of reckless endangerment in the first degree, a class D felony, and one count of reckless driving, which is an unclassified misdemeanor. Gollnau faces a maximum sentence of seven years in prison if convicted on all charges.
Gollnau was released on her own recognizance and is set to return to court on January 4. If convicted, she could face up to seven years behind bars.