Assembly Minority legislators today called for increased penalties for incidents of vehicular homicides, in the aftermath of a tragic fatality in the village of Hannibal. On September 19th, 16-year old Kaydence Nichols was walking along State Route 176 when she was struck and killed by a driver who left the scene. In addition, 17-year-old Riley Trumble was also struck and sustained numerous serious injuries.

“This horrible incident has left families in despair and an entire community searching for answers. Our hearts go out to Kaydence’s friends and loved ones,” Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R,C,I,Ref.-Pulaski) said. “The penalties for vehicular manslaughter must be increased. There is already bi-partisan support for such measures and existing legislation ready for consideration; now is time for action. The reckless decision of a repeat offender has cost the life of one teenager, and left another hospitalized, fighting for survival. How many more tragedies do we need to witness before we finally address the “soft-on-crime” mentality that has infected New York state?”

When criminal justice reforms were passed in April 2019, Minority Conference lawmakers joined law-enforcement officials, judges, and prosecutors to warn about the potential dangers of the legislation and call for its repeal. The suspected in the incident was arrested and charged with multiple felonies, including driving while intoxicated. Had the original bill not been amended in 2020, the individual charged in Kaydence’s death would have been released into the community immediately after his arrest.

“My heart goes out to these families as they try to cope with unimaginable pain and suffering,” Brian Manktelow(R,C,I,Ref.-Lyons) said. “We need to hold individuals accountable for their actions and the destruction they caused for the people of this community. I will continue to push for stronger laws, reasonable penalties to restore law and order so other families will never have to go through what these families are dealing with.”

“I struggle to put into words the deep sympathy I feel for the family of Kaydence Nichols and for the loved ones of Riley Trumble, who was critically injured by a drunk driver last week,” said Senator Patty Ritchie (R,C,I- 48th District). “It’s unfathomable that had the original bail reform laws not been amended, the driver facing charges—who is a repeat offender—would have been released immediately after being arrested. Albany’s affinity for taking the side of those who do wrong, over the safety of law-abiding citizens needs to end. The time is now to strengthen penalties for vehicular manslaughter, as well as to continue to roll back the disastrous bail reform provisions that are continuing to put the safety of all New Yorkers in jeopardy.”

“Albany’s One-Party-Rule is determined to soften sentences when violent acts are committed. Their pro-criminal platform disregards justice for victims and ties the hands of prosecutors. More than ever, we need a deeper scrutiny of a system that has moved too far to the side of bad actors,” Barclay added.