Students and staff in the South Seneca School District are in mourning after learning that a fourth-grade student was killed in a one-car accident on Friday.
Investigators say the driver was heading north on State Route 89 in the area of Frontenac Road in Covert when her car suddenly left the east shoulder of the road and struck a culvert along with several trees. The Chevy Impala came to rest in a small body of water at the bottom of a deep embankment.
9-year-old Ellamae McLaughlin suffered extensive injuries and was pronounced dead at Cayuga Medical Center. Two 12-year-old passengers suffered minor injuries and were taken to Strong. The driver, 45-year-old Kymbra McLaughlin, of Ithaca, was taken to Upstate for treatment of a hand injury.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for the family to help with funeral expenses.
The Trumansburg Fire Department, Interlaken Fire Department, Ithaca Fire Department, and Ovid Fire Department also responded to the scene. Sheriff Timothy Luce said rescue efforts were extremely challenging and rope rescue teams were deployed to the scene. The Sheriff’s Office was additionally assisted by the New York State Police and the Seneca County E-911 Center.
The accident remains under investigation and anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Lieutenant Thompson at (315) 220-3449.
In a post on social media, the South Seneca School District announced it would have grief counselors on-hand for those in need.
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