Driver in Empire Blvd. hit-and-run sentenced to 4-12 years

Maxwell Ward pled guilty to Manslaughter 2nd

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Webster, NY - After pleading guilty to all charges, Maxwell Ward was recently sentenced to 4-12 years for killing one and injuring three in the hit-and-run on Empire Boulevard back in June 2020.

On April 6, 2021, Ward, 28, pled guilty to all charges, which included Manslaughter in the Second Degree; Operator Leave Scene of Incident Resulting in Death; Criminally Negligent Homicide; Operator Leave Scene of Incident Resulting in Serious Physical Injury; and two counts of Operator Leave Scene of Incident Resulting in Personal Injury.

Ward was sentenced to 4-12 years in the New York State Department of Corrections.

On June 20, 2020, at approximately 8:52 p.m., Ward was driving down Empire Boulevard (near the Ridge Road intersection) when he hit pedestrians Oksana Zakharchyshyn, 41; Oleksandra Zakharchyshyn, 15; Mariana Zakharchyshyn, 22; and 3-year-old Maksym Tysbrii with his Toyota Rav4.

Ward fled the scene without stopping to aid the family or call 911.

Oksana Zakharchyshyn was killed in the accident. The 15-year-old suffered serious physical injury, and the 22-year-old and 3-year-old suffered personal injury.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Merrick Sadler of the DWI Bureau.

“It is our hope that this family and their loved ones are able to continue healing from this horrible tragedy now that Mr. Ward has pled guilty to all counts, accepted the state prison sentence, and taken accountability for his actions.”

“This crime had a profound impact on our Webster community and forever changed the lives of the victims and the Zakharchyshyn family,” stated Webster Police Chief Dennis Kohlmeier. “On behalf of the Webster Police Department, I want to express my deepest condolences to the entire Zakharchyshyn family. While no amount of justice can undo the impact of this loss, I hope this outcome helps bring closure to the victims of this crash and their family.”