A 17-year-old who was driving a vehicle involved in a fatal crash on March 4 in the Steuben County town of Avoca has been charged with Driving While Ability Impaired By Drugs, a misdemeanor, and more charges are likely, according to Steuben County Sheriff Jim Allard.

The crash killed 18-year-old passenger Christopher O’Dell of Avoca and injured the unidentified driver and two other passengers.

The sheriff said the 2006 Hyundai two-door coupe struck a utility pole on state Route 415 and ended up in a parking lot just north of Reservoir Road.

O’Dell was an active member of the Wallace Volunteer Fire Department and was involved in the community, said fire department member and family friend Bill Collmer of Avoca.

See what I wrote about this tragic crash last month, just days after another young life was lost in a senseless crash involving a car full of teenagers.

Thank you for reading,

Jim