A Fulton man who police said intentionally rammed a stranger's vehicle from behind was charged with second-degree murder after the other driver was killed in a collision with a third vehicle.
William L. Levea, 79, of 1471 County Route 6, Fulton, is being held without bail in Cayuga County Jail for the death of Christopher J. Spack, 41, of 3381 Howlett Hill Road, Camillus, in a car crash that occurred at about 6:40 p.m. Friday on Route 370 near Route 176 in Cato, according to the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office.
Police said that Levea was driving drunk and is suspected of ramming into another vehicle just minutes before the crash in Cato.
“We don't know at this point what his motivation was,” said Lt. Joseph J. Weeks. He said authorities do not believe that Levea knew Spack, and that a similar ramming incident, in which no one was injured, was reported in Warners, Onondaga County, shortly before the Cato crash.
“It leads us to believe he had no particular problem with our victim in this case,” said Weeks.
Authorities said Levea repeatedly rammed his Dodge passenger car into the rear of Spack's Ford Ranger pickup truck for nearly four miles along Route 370, from its intersection with Plainville Road to its intersection with Route 176.
Spack eventually lost control of his truck and crossed into oncoming traffic. He was ejected from his truck when it collided with an eastbound Chevy truck being driven by Bradley W. Leyburn, 34, of Cato.
Spack was pronounced dead at the scene. Leyburn was transported to University Hospital in Syracuse for treatment of minor injuries.
Another driver, who struck parts of Spack's vehicle after the initial impact, Patrick J. Walton, 16, and his passenger, Seth Garlow, 17, both of Cato, were uninjured.
Onondaga authorities were alerted of the incident by a 911 call Spack made after Levea began ramming his car and police sent patrol cars and a helicopter to try to intercept Levea, Weeks said. “But they weren't able to get there in time,” he said.
Levea's charges include driving while intoxicated and reckless driving, in addition to the second-degree murder charge. Levea was not injured.
Weeks said authorities are investigating if Levea may also have been the driver involved in a hit and run, in which no one was reported injured, in Warners shortly before the accident in Cato. A witness reported a vehicle in that case matching the description of the 2008 Dodge Levea was driving, police said.
Staff writer Sarah Gantz can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or sarah.gantz@lee.net
Police said that Levea was driving drunk and is suspected of ramming into another vehicle just minutes before the crash in Cato.
“We don't know at this point what his motivation was,” said Lt. Joseph J. Weeks. He said authorities do not believe that Levea knew Spack, and that a similar ramming incident, in which no one was injured, was reported in Warners, Onondaga County, shortly before the Cato crash.
“It leads us to believe he had no particular problem with our victim in this case,” said Weeks.
Authorities said Levea repeatedly rammed his Dodge passenger car into the rear of Spack's Ford Ranger pickup truck for nearly four miles along Route 370, from its intersection with Plainville Road to its intersection with Route 176.
Spack eventually lost control of his truck and crossed into oncoming traffic. He was ejected from his truck when it collided with an eastbound Chevy truck being driven by Bradley W. Leyburn, 34, of Cato.
Spack was pronounced dead at the scene. Leyburn was transported to University Hospital in Syracuse for treatment of minor injuries.
Another driver, who struck parts of Spack's vehicle after the initial impact, Patrick J. Walton, 16, and his passenger, Seth Garlow, 17, both of Cato, were uninjured.
Onondaga authorities were alerted of the incident by a 911 call Spack made after Levea began ramming his car and police sent patrol cars and a helicopter to try to intercept Levea, Weeks said. “But they weren't able to get there in time,” he said.
Levea's charges include driving while intoxicated and reckless driving, in addition to the second-degree murder charge. Levea was not injured.
Weeks said authorities are investigating if Levea may also have been the driver involved in a hit and run, in which no one was reported injured, in Warners shortly before the accident in Cato. A witness reported a vehicle in that case matching the description of the 2008 Dodge Levea was driving, police said.
Staff writer Sarah Gantz can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or sarah.gantz@lee.net
