Anthony Rydzewski

Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane has announced that 41-year-old Anthony Rydzewski of Angola was sentenced Friday before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller. He received an indeterminate sentence of 3 to 9 years in prison. Rydzewski was also ordered to pay the maximum fine of $5,000.

On Feb. 28 at approximately 11:30 a.m., Rydzewski was recklessly driving at a high rate of speed northbound on Route 5 in the Town of Hamburg when he caused a collision with another vehicle. The driver of the other vehicle, 37-year-old Jenny E. Zuhlke of Hamburg, died at the scene. The defendant was taken by ambulance to Erie County Medical Center where he was treated for injuries.

The defendant was located in Crawford County, Pennsylvania by the US Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force where he was taken into custody on an arrest warrant. He waived extradition proceedings and was returned to Western New York by members of the Hamburg Police Department to face prosecution in April 2024.

Rydzewski pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree manslaughter, A Class “C” felony, the highest sustainable charge, in July 2024. The defendant was not offered a reduced plea.

Acting DA Keane commended the Town of Hamburg Police Department Accident Investigation Unit for their work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Bethany A. Solek of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau.