Criminal charges filed in fatal Steuben County crash

The continuing investigation by the New York State Police into a fatal motor vehicle accident that occurred on Labor Day (Sept. 3rd, 2018) on County Road 10 in the town of Cameron has resulted in criminal charges.  It was originally reported that the involved vehicle was northbound on Ct. Rt. #10 and failed to negotiate a bend in the roadway, exiting onto the west shoulder.  The vehicle overturned multiple times and came to rest in a ravine, ejecting one of the occupants, identified as Tessa L. Updyke, age 19, of Kersey, Pa., who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Senior Investigator Curt Eaton said that further investigation by the N.Y.S.P. Collision Reconstruction Unit has revealed that the vehicle was operated by a 17-year-old subject, who was charged with Criminally Negligent Homicide (class E felony), Falsifying Business Records, 1st degree (class E felony), as well as Unlicensed Operation, Failure to Keep Right, and Speed Not Reasonable nor Prudent (Vehicle & Traffic law violations).  It is alleged that the 17-year-old operator caused Updyke’ s death through criminal negligence and also provided false information to the New York State Police regarding his operation of the involved vehicle, in an attempt to conceal his involvement. The subject was arraigned before town of Bath Justice Chauncey Watches and remanded to the Steuben Co. Jail in lieu of $25,000.00 cash bail or $50,000.00 property bond.  Reappearance in town of Bath Court is scheduled for Monday at 2:30 p.m.