DANNY GRIFFIN PLEADS GUILTY TO VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER IN THE SECOND DEGREE IN ULSTER COUNTY COURT
Danny H. Griffin, 32, of 230 Creek Side Drive, Shandaken, entered a guilty plea to Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree in Ulster County Court today moments before a pre-trial hearing. Griffin was indicted in January of 2017 based on a collision which occurred on State Route 28 in the Town of Olive on August 25, 2015 at 7:30 AM. Griffin drove his 2001 Toyota Sienna into the oncoming lane crashing head-on with a Subaru Impreza operated by Delores Falkowski, 64, of Woodland Valley. Falkowski was killed as a result of the impact. Falkowski was driving to work.An extensive investigation ensued by the New York State Police and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office. The investigation revealed that Griffin was impaired by the use of fentanyl, an opioid which is nearly 100 times stronger than Morphine. Griffin purchased heroin laced with fentanyl in Newburgh in the early morning hours of August 25, 2015, and injected himself with the drug with another person before driving home to Shandaken. Griffin also possessed a small amount of cocaine and heroin in his Toyota Sienna van. Found in the vehicle were two crack pipes, numerous hypodermic needles, and a tourniquet used to assist with drug injection.
During the plea, Griffin admitted being impaired by fentanyl as a result of using heroin laced with fentanyl. Several experts were hired to assist with the collision investigation and toxicology based on a blood sample obtained from Griffin.
The New York State Legislature has classified Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree as a class D non-violent felony.
Griffin was represented by Russell Schindler and the case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Gerard Van Loan.