(Photo provided by the New York State Police).
The New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation at Homer announced on Friday that an arrest has been made in connection to a fatal car crash in Cortland County, according to a report.
The report noted that State Police arrested an unidentified 15-year old female, the driver of an SUV in the crash. She was charged with criminally negligent homicide (a Class-E Felony) and two counts of third-degree assault (misdemeanors). State Police did not provide a name of the 15-year old female.
The arrest of the 15-year old comes after a car carsh in December 2022 in the town of Homer. This led to the death of 16-year old Salena N. Wallner, and serious injuries to two other passengers. A Cortland County Sheriff’s deputy, also at the scene, sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
On December 28, 2022, the county sheriff’s deputy observed the SUV drive through a red traffic light at the intersection on Route 281 and West Main Street in the town of Cortlandville, the report noted.
The deputy tried to initiate a traffic stop on Route 281 when the SUV “failed to comply,” the report continued. This led to the SUV and the deputy’s vehicle losing control and crashing after “failing to negotiate a turn” onto the Interstate 81 entrance ramp in Homer, the report stated.
The report noted that the deputy “had no part” in the cause of the crash.
Following the crash, it was revealed that the four minors stole the SUV and ran away from the The William George Agency for Children's Services in Tompkins County.
The State Police’s full report is here.
