The local man on trial for a fatal crash in Steuben County four years ago that killed four people was found not guilty Wednesday on all charges he faced, including vehicular homicide, WETM television reported.
Dustin Drake was originally charged with four counts of second-degree murder in connection with the October 2019 accident on Country Route 76 in Pulteney but those charges were dropped during a pretrial hearing. During the two-week trial, Drake’s attorney argued his client was not driving the car when it left the road and struck a tree.
According to police reports, Drake suffered only minor injuries and was found 150 feet away from the crash site.
Killed in the accident were 28-year-old Korbie Higgins of Bath, 26-year-old Coy Miner of Hammondsport, 25-year-old Nikki Wise, of Prattsburgh, and 29-year-old Adam Bellamy, of Pulteney.
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