Former corrections officer Edward Kuebler III has pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an incident causing personal injury --- highest charge.
Officials say he faces up to three years in prison when he is sentenced on January 17th, 2018.
His driver’s license has been suspended.
Prosecutors say Edward Kuebler III of Tonawanda never stopped after he hit Dana Papaj June 13th while she was walking her dog along East River Road.
District Attorney John Flynn said Kuebler's passenger mirror hit Papaj in the head.
According to a civil lawsuit filed by Papaj's husband, Kuebler was on his phone, either texting or talking with his girlfriend when he hit Papaj. Kuebler's child was in the vehicle at the time.
Police arrested him more than two months later and charged him with leaving the scene of a personal injury incident.
Kuebler, a volunteer firefighter and former corrections officer at Wende Correctional Facility in Alden, pleaded not guilty.
The civil lawsuit also claims both Erie County and the Town of Grand Island are negligent for allowing "East River Road to remain in a state of disrepair and in a defective condition" and for "failure to provide safe and sufficient sidewalks."
Papaj continues to recover from her extensive injuries at ECMC.
