California Man Indicted for Fatal Crash in Buffalo's Kensington-Grider Neighborhood

Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that James A. Banks, 35, of Antioch, California, was arraigned this morning before Erie County Court Judge Jessica Kulpit on an indictment charging him with two counts of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide (Class B felonies) and one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree (Class C felony).

It is alleged that on Sunday, August 31, 2026, at approximately 12:34 a.m., the defendant was driving westbound on Kensington Avenue when he went through a red light at the intersection of Grider Street, causing a collision with another vehicle, a taxi. The defendant was allegedly operating the vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. The driver of the cab was taken by ambulance to ECMC where he was treated for minor injuries and released. The rear passenger of the taxi, 69-year-old Gloria Johnson, died from the injuries.

Banks is scheduled to return for a pre-trial conference on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Our prosecutor requested that the defendant be remanded. The defendant remains held without bail.

If convicted of the highest charge, Banks faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

DA Keane commends Officer Corey Krug, Officer Mark Andrzejak, Officer Andrea James, and Officer Jason Heidinger of the Buffalo Police Department Accident Investigation Unit for their work in this investigation as well as ECDA victim advocate Cathy Mitchell.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christine O. Murray of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.