A 79-year-old Fulton man charged with murder in connection with Friday's fatal car crash in the town of Cato was previously convicted in 1968 of assaulting a man in a fatal bar fight in Oswego County.

According to articles published by the Oswego Palladium-Times at the time, William Levea was convicted in 1968 of second-degree felony assault for kicking and hitting the victim and striking him in the head with a bar stool in 1966. The victim, James Egan, later died at the hospital. Levea had also been facing a murder charge but was not convicted.

Cayuga County Sheriff Lt. Joseph Weeks said William Levea, of 1471 County Route 6, Fulton, was previously convicted of robbery in 1954 as well as assault in 1964 and 1968. One assault conviction was a misdemeanor while the other two convictions were felonies.

Levea was charged Friday with second-degree murder, driving while intoxicated and reckless driving in connection with an accident that occurred on Route 370 at about 6:30 p.m.

Authorities said Levea repeatedly rammed his orange 2008 Dodge Caliber into the back of a 2000 Ford Ranger pickup truck driven by Christopher Spack, 41, of Camillus.

After calling 911 to report he was being harassed by another drive, Spack lost control of his vehicle and crossed into the path of an oncoming Chevrolet pickup truck, deputies said.

Spack was ejected from the vehicle despite wearing a seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene, deputies said.

Weeks said an investigation of the accident resulted in Levea's DWI charge and that the results of a blood alcohol test are still pending.

Cayuga County District Attorney Jon Budelmann said a second-degree murder conviction carries a minimum sentence of 15 years to life and a maximum of 25 years to life.

Investigators are currently trying to figure out what Levea was doing prior to the accident.

In a press release issued by the sheriff's office, investigators said they believe Levea left a relative's home in Hannibal at 3:30 p.m., but his whereabouts after that are unknown.

The sheriff's office also said it is working with the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office to investigate a similar ramming reported in the town of Elbridge on Route 31 near Younghold Lane Friday night. A driver told authorities they were struck from behind three times at around 6:10 p.m. by a vehicle matching the description of Levea's car.

Detectives ask anyone who saw an orange Dodge Caliber with a New York license plate number of EDX 6213 between 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. Friday to call detectives at 253-1610.