Steuben: Driver charged in crash that kills student/volunteer firefighter - others injured

AVOCA - Steuben County Sheriff Jim Allard reports that on April 9, 2020, deputies of the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office arrested the alleged operator of the car involved in a March 4^th fatal crash on State Route 415 in Avoca. It is alleged that the driver of the vehicle, age 17 at the time of the incident, operated the vehicle while their ability was impaired due to drug use. The operator was charged with Driving While Ability is Impaired; due to Drugs, arraigned in the Centralized Arraignment Court and released. 18-year-old Christopher O’Dell died from injuries sustained in the crash. He was a student at Avoca Central and a volunteer firefighter with the Wallace department. Several others were injured in the crash. This investigation is on-going and future charges may be filed.