Springville man pleads guilty to killing another man in East Concord road rage incident

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - A Springville man has pleaded guilty for his role in the death of a Lancaster man during a road rage incident back in East Concord.

39-year-old Mario Garcia pleaded guilty Monday afternoon before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi to one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree (Class “C” felony).

It was back on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023 at approximately 3:20 p.m. ET when the defendant, while driving a pickup truck Southbound on Vaughn Street (Route 240) in the Town of East Concord, was involved in a road rage-incident with another driver. The victim, who was also driving a pickup truck, pulled off onto the side of the road on Route 240 South of Davis Hill Road. The defendant pulled off to the side of the road behind the victim’s vehicle.

The victim exited his vehicle and walked toward the front of the defendant’s vehicle. The defendant recklessly caused the death of the victim by hitting the victim with his pickup truck.

64-year-old Andrew Mikula was declared deceased at the scene. The defendant drove to his home after the incident, where he called 9-1-1.

Garcia faces a maximum of 15 years in prison when he is sentenced on Wednesday, June 5 at 9:30 a.m. ET. He was held without bail pending sentence.