Jamestown man sentenced after killing teen, then killing other woman while on bail
JAMESTOWN, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Jamestown man was sentenced Monday to 13 to 40 years behind bars after hitting and killing a teenage pedestrian, and then hitting and killing another woman while out on bail for the first crash.
On New Year’s Eve 2021, Randall Rolison was driving a tractor trailer when he hit and killed 15-year-old Lexy Hughan as she crossed West 6th Street in Jamestown. Then, while out on bail, he killed another person. On Dec. 3, 2022, Linda Kraemer and her husband, Gray Kraemer were driving home from a concert when Rolison, who was high on meth, ran a stop sign and hit their car. Linda was killed in the crash and Gary was hurt.
“This is the absolute worst set of circumstances that would arise from bail laws,” said Jason Schmid, the Chautauqua County district attorney.
In June of 2023, Rolison pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter stemming from the first accident and aggravated vehicular homicide stemming from the second.
And on Monday, it was an emotional day in court as he was sentenced. Hughan’s father read victim impact statements that weren’t allowed to be recorded by our News 4 cameras. He said his daughter held their family together. She was also an amazing friend and a talented musician who loved the ukulele. She wanted to be a teacher when she grew up.
“She must have subconsciously knew she didn’t have much time on this earth, because she very quickly wanted to love everybody,” Lexy’s mother, Sara Rafaloski, said after the sentencing. “She started walking at like 6-8 months, she was ready to go and do good for the world. She wanted to be a kindergarten teacher … she always made sure there were things for the younger generation to do and looking out for everybody.”
Rolison received the maximum sentence for his crimes. After about 13 years, he can go before a state parole board to ask for his release.
“I will fight tooth and nail and make sure I get to read statements again if he comes up for parole,” Rafaloski said. “Nobody is going to give me another day of sunshine with my daughter. He doesn’t deserve another day of sunshine outside of a jail.”
The Kraemers said Linda was the matriarch of her family. She loved her grandkids and volunteering in the community.
In a statement, her family said, “On behalf of the Kraemer family, we hope that our communities remember Lexy Hughan and Linda Kraemer, and the beautiful smiles and laughter they shared with us. We ask that everyone keeps a song in their heart and goes out of their way to do acts of kindness in their honor.”
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