Reporter Volume 26, No.24 April 13, 1995

By STEVE COX
Reporter Staff
Three UB students were seriously injured Saturday, April 8, when a
vehicle drove onto an Englewood Avenue sidewalk and struck them.
	Britt Nelenbach, 20; Jill Franklin, 19; both of Engelwood
Ave., and Amy McCoppin, 20, of Goodyear Hall on the South Campus, were
taken by ambulance to the Erie County Medical Center. Nelenbach was
dragged and pinned beneath the vehicle for nearly half an hour,
according to police reports. She suffered head  injuries, a broken
forearm and internal injuries. She underwent surgery at ECMC Sunday
morning and was listed in fair condition as of Tuesday. Franklin
sustained hip and lower back injuries and also was listed in fair
condition. McCoppin was treated  for leg injuries and released.
	The accident occurred shortly before 8 p.m. when a vehicle
police say was operated by William Wagner, 48, of Montrose Place,
turned off Main Street onto Englewood, then continued turning  left,
veering onto the sidewalk on the wrong side of the street. Wagner was
charged with second degree vehicular assault, driving while
intoxicated, reckless driving, driving  on the sidewalk, and driving
at a speed not reasonable or prudent.
	In addition, Diane Wagner, William's wife, was arrested for
obstructing governmental administration. Police said she arrived at
the scene in another vehicle, but told them she had been driving the
vehicle that struck the three students.
	Wagner was previously arrested for driving while intoxicated
in Kenmore in May, 1992. He was later convicted  of a lesser charge
and had his license suspended. Had the previous conviction been for
DWI, Buffalo Police could have charged Wagner with felony drunken
driving, which carries a mandatory prison term.