MAYFIELD — Two people in one of the vehicles involved in a July 4 bicyclist crash that killed a 16-year-old Mayfield resident have been arrested for allegedly providing police with false information regarding the fatal accident.
Benjamin Govel, 27, of Clifton Park was charged by state police on Thursday with making a false written statement, a misdemeanor, and third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, also a misdemeanor.
Also charged was Breanna J. Ferrara, 27, of Halfmoon with first-degree falsifying business records, a felony.
The two were charged after police discovered they had allegedly provided false information regarding the fatal accident that led to the death of William Drake. The pair had allegedly lied about who was driving the second vehicle that had hit Drake.
The 16-year-old bicyclist had been traveling on the southbound shoulder of Route 30, facing east and began to enter the roadway when the first vehicle driven by 23-year-old Julie Tineo, of Amsterdam, swerved into the oncoming lane to avoid hitting him. The front passenger side of the vehicle hit the front tire of the bike, spinning Drake and sending him further into the southbound lane.
It was originally reported that the second vehicle was driven by Ferrara and was unable to stop or avoid the bike, striking Drake in the roadway. Drake was taken to Nathan Littauer Hospital where he died.
However it has since been determined that Ferrara was the passenger of the second vehicle and Govel was the driver.
Govel and Ferrara were issued appearance tickets and are scheduled to appear in Mayfield Town Court on Aug. 11, at 3 p.m.
