A Buffalo man has been virtually arraigned in the death of Angel Marie Cobb, 34, of Buffalo in November.
Erie County District Attorney John Flynn said Paul Tolbert, 40, was arraigned in Erie County Court Monday morning on an indictment charging him with felony counts of second degree manslaughter and second degree vehicular manslaughter, plus a misdemeanor charge of criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Tolbert is accused of driving a minivan at a high rate of speed southbound along Delaware Avenue in Buffalo while under the influence of cocaine and fentanyl, and crashing into the McKinley Monument in Niagara Square on the morning of Nov. 26, 2020. The crash killed Cobb, who was a passenger in the van.
Tolbert was taken to Erie County Medical Center with various injuries. The DA said a substance determined to be fentanyl was discovered in a small bag in the defendant's clothing.
A pre-trial conference has been scheduled for May 4 and Tolbert is being held without bail until then. If convicted of all charges, he faces a maximum of 15 years in prison.
