John Hillman

MAYVILLE – A Jamestown man has been charged with two counts of second degree vehicular manslaughter and a count of criminally negligent homicide following the investigation into an auto accident that took place late last year in the town of Carroll.

According to Chautauqua County District Attorney Patrick Swanson, 37 year-old John Hillman of Jamestown was indicted by a Chautauqua County Grand Jury late last week.

According to the DA’s office, the indictment comes after a thorough and complete investigation by the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, the New York State Police Forensic Investigation Center and the District Attorney’s Office. The indictment alleges events surrounding a single vehicle accident  on Dec. 5 on Ivory Rd in the Town of Carroll that lead to the death of 39 year-old Chalise Hebner of Pittsfield, PA.

Hillman was allegedly driving the vehicle with an alleged 0.13 percent Blood Alcohol Content at the time of the accident. He was taken into custody late last week and sent to the County Jail on $25,000 cash bail. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for May 16, 2016.

“This is the third vehicular manslaughter in the past 12 months in Chautauqua County. These are preventable deaths.” Swanson said. “Hopefully, as we enter the better weather of the late Spring, Summer and early Fall of Western New York, people are using their heads when getting behind the wheel of their cars. So much can change in the blink of an eye. There is nothing wrong with getting a designated driver or calling for a ride. These preventable tragedies need to stop.”