VanEtten Teen is Charged in Double-Fatal Crash

A Chemung County teen is now charged in connection with the deaths of two people in a New Year’s Eve crash in Tompkins County.

New York State Police say 19 year old James Crosby of VanEtten is charged with two felony counts of manslaughter, one felony and one misdemeanor assault charge as well as misdemeanor reckless endangerment and reckless driving in the head-on crash on Route 34/96 in Newfield that killed his passenger, 20 year old Derek Nichols of Spencer and a passenger in the other vehicle, 67 year old Kathy Lattimore of Spencer.

Authorities accuse Crosby of speeding as he was driving toward Ithaca at around 5:30 p.m. on December 31st.

Investigators say the teen lost control of his Chevrolet Monte Carlo and crossed into the southbound lane, hitting a Jeep driven by 31 year old Samantha Aarnio of Spencer.

Aarnio and her husband, 32 year old Eugene Aarnio suffered multiple injuries while her mother in law, Kathy Lattimore died at the hospital.

Crosby suffered a leg injury.

Nichols' family told the Elmira Star Gazette following the crash that that Derek had been riding with Crosby to Ithaca to pick up an engagement ring that Nichols planned to give to his girlfriend that night.

Following his arrest February 24, Crosby was released under Supervision of Probation to wait for his next court date.