Local man charged with manslaughter for fatal crash

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Andrew Bodah (left) has been charged with manslaughter in the death of Victor Pier Jr. (right). (Photos Provided)

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May 20, 2009

By ANDREA VanVALKENBURG The Press Republican Wed May 20, 2009, 08:19 PM EDT

PLATTSBURGH — A young Chazy man is charged with manslaughter for an accident last weekend that claimed the life of an acquaintance.

Andrew Bodah, 20, was initially issued six traffic tickets after the high-speed rollover crash around 2 a.m. Saturday that killed Victor Pier Jr.

Police said Bodah ran his car through a stop sign at a rural Chazy intersection when he was unable to negotiate a curve on Stetson Road.

His Dodge veered off the road and slammed into an embankment, rolling several times before it stopped about 40 feet from the road.

Pier was the sole back-seat passenger at the time of the crash and was thrown from the mangled vehicle as it tumbled off the road. The 20-year-old New Jersey native died upon impact.

Bodah and front-seat passenger John Munson, 21, suffered minor injuries and were treated at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

NEW CHARGES

On Tuesday, Bodah was charged with manslaughter and third-degree assault in connection with Pier’s death.

The charges accuse him of recklessly causing the fatal accident. Investigators believe Bodah was driving at an “excessive speed” when he crashed.

Police said Wednesday that they do not believe alcohol was a factor in the accident.

Bodah is also facing citations for unreasonable speed, reckless driving, moving from lane unsafely, failure to use designated lane, failure to keep right and failing to stop at a stop sign.

He was arraigned on the new charges in Beekmantown Town Court Tuesday afternoon but did not enter a plea.

The former Chazy Central School student was still being held at Clinton County Jail Wednesday on $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond.

Bodah is scheduled to appear in Chazy Town Court next Tuesday to face the allegations.

NO SEAT BELT

The accident has prompted police to again remind drivers about the importance of seat-belt use.

Though Bodah and Munson were properly restrained, Pier was unbuckled at the time of the crash.

Police said tragedy can often be prevented in the event of an accident if back-seat passengers wear the live-saving restraints.

LEAVES WIFE, STEPCHILD

Services for Pier are being held Friday at Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. He will be entombed in New Jersey at a later date.

Pier spent most of his childhood in New Jersey and had moved to the area as a young teen, later graduating from Beekmantown High School.

“He was always on the go and really outgoing,” his wife, Nichole Pier, recalled Wednesday.

“He loved meeting new people and was always so polite. He was just a really good person.”

The young couple met last fall and married in December.

Mr. Pier was killed on the day of their five-month wedding anniversary.

Mrs. Pier said her husband’s death has affected many, including his 3-year-old stepdaughter, with whom he’d grown very close.

After hearing news of Bodah’s arrest, Mrs. Pier said: “He should be in there (jail). My husband’s gone now.”

E-mail Andrea VanValkenburg at:

avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com