Buffalo woman accused of speeding to hit, kill man

Iyanna R. Scott, 21, was charged with killing Demario Patterson by speeding a Hyundai Elantra toward him and another man as they crossed Union Road around 5:30 p.m. on May 19, according to the Erie County District Attorney’s Office . The other pedestrian was not injured.

The incident began when Scott was driving with Patterson and another male passenger to a car wash on Walden Avenue. After an argument and physical altercation involving Scott, the two men walked away and headed west on Walden Avenue, crossing Union Road.

Scott allegedly followed them in the car and accelerated toward the two men as they crossed the intersection, hitting Patterson, who was taken by ambulance to Erie County Medical Center, where he later died.

The defendant left the scene without reporting the incident to police, according to an indictment. The vehicle was later found on Briscoe Avenue in Buffalo.

“This is a completely senseless crime. This defendant would have known these two victims, traveled with them before the crime, then would have intentionally driven her vehicle towards them while they were crossing the street defenseless. My thoughts are with the family and friends of the young man who tragically lost his life. Fortunately, the surviving victim and no one else were injured on the road that day,” Acting Erie County Prosecutor Mike Keane said in a news release.

Scott was held without bail. No return court date has yet been set. If convicted, Scott faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.