Man killed in car crash

By SHAUNIE CADIEUX
Contributing Writer

May 17, 2009 03:28 am

— CHAZY — A 21-year-old Morrisonville man was killed in a car crash early Saturday morning.

The victim, Victor Pier Jr., was riding in the rear passenger seat of 21-year-old Andrew Bodah's 1997 Black Dodge Stratus about 2:04 a.m.

Bodah ran a stop sign heading northbound at the intersection of Stetson and North Farm roads in Chazy and failed to negotiate a curve, sending him off the west side of the street.

His vehicle, which State Trooper Brent Langlois said was traveling at "excessive speeds," struck an embankment and rolled several times before coming to a stop 40 feet west of Stetson Road.

Pier was ejected from the vehicle and thrown about 30 feet from the car.

State Police said his body suffered "massive trauma" and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

"He wasn't wearing a seat belt," Langlois said. "Everyone always thinks you can get away with not wearing a belt in the back seat, but when you see enough of these accidents you realize it's just not the case."

Pier's body was transported to CVPH Medical Center for an autopsy.

Bodah and a second passenger who had been sitting in the front seat, 21-year-old John Munson, experienced only minor injuries to the legs and back. They were transported by Chazy EMS to CVPH, and were both released later the Saturday.

Bodah was issued six tickets, including speed unreasonable, reckless driving, moving from lane unsafely, failing to use designated lane, failure to keep right and failing to stop at a stop sign. Langlois says the incident is still undergoing investigation.