Heather Capell

A Brunswick, Georgia woman has been found guilty for causing a fatal car crash on I-86 in the town of North Harmony in July 2021

51-year old Bradley Wakefield of New Albion, Cattaraugus County died in that crash.

Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt said 33-year old Heather Capell was convicted of 2nd Degree Vehicular Manslaughter, Criminally Negligent Homicide, and Driving while Ability Impaired by Drugs.

The jury acquitted Capell on the more serious charge, 2nd Degree Manslaughter: Recklessly Causes Death. The decision Monday came after a two-week long trial.

Capell will be sentenced December 19. She faces a maximum sentence of seven years in state prison.

Following an investigation by the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office, a warrant was issued for 32-year old Heather Capell of Brunswick, Georgia, for second degree vehicular manslaughter and driving while ability impaired by a combination of drugs. Capell was taken into custody by the Erie Police Department in Erie, Pennsylvania where she was arraigned. She will appear in Erie County Court to face extradition to New York State on the Chautauqua County charges.

51-year old Bradley Wakefield of New Albion died in the crash.