Police charged an 18-year-old Ithaca man with felony manslaughter following a September crash that killed a passenger in his vehicle.
Prosecutors identified the driver as Michael Blake Jr., who was arraigned Tuesday in Schuyler County Court on charges tied to the deadly wreck.
Blake faces second-degree manslaughter, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, and misdemeanor driving while ability impaired related to alcohol and drug use, according to prosecutors.
Authorities allege Blake recklessly operated a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and marijuana, leading to a crash that killed his passenger.
The Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office previously reported the crash happened Sept. 28 around 11:45 a.m. on County Road 1. Deputies said a 2010 Ford Fusion went off the road after failing to negotiate a curve and struck several trees.
During the bail hearing, Schuyler County District Attorney Jeremy Hourihan argued the seriousness of the charges, the potential prison sentence, and the harm caused justified monetary bail.
County Court Judge Matthew Hayden set bail at $15,000 cash, $30,000 insurance bond, or a $75,000 partially secured surety bond.
If convicted, Blake could face up to 15 years in state prison on the second-degree manslaughter charge and up to seven years on the vehicular manslaughter charge.
Blake is scheduled to return to court Feb. 19.
The Schuyler County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office and New York State Police investigated the crash.
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