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Man, 20, Charged In Fatal Portville Crash

Area Police Reports

PORTVILLE — A 20-year-old has been charged after a crash early Sept. 3 that led to one death and two injuries.

Cattaraugus County sheriff’s deputies say Skyler J. Hess of Wells Road in Little Genesee is facing a second-degree vehicular manslaughter charge, two counts of second-degree vehicular assault and driving while intoxicated after the incident on Route 417. Deputies say Hess’s pickup truck hit a legally parked Jeep on the side of the road that propelled across a lawn at 465 Portville Ceres Road that fatally struck a 19-year-old. Hess’s truck continued on, hitting a parked sedan before veering across the yard and striking a tree.

During the course of these events, two females were struck. An 18-year-old remains in critical condition with life-threatening injuries at ECMC in Buffalo. The 16-year-old was transported to Oishei Children’s Hospital with serious injuries and has since returned home.

Hess was taken into custody and arraigned by town Judge Judy McClain and sent to Cattaraugus County Jail on $50,000 cash or $100,000 property bond. He has since posted bail and will be back in court later.

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