Lewis County, NY (June 18, 2026) – Two people were killed, and one was injured after two vehicles exited Lyonsdale Road in Lewis County on the evening of June 18, 2026, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office said a black 2022 BMW four-door sedan, operated by 26-year-old Jeremiah Kim of Utica, was traveling eastbound on Lyonsdale Road near 3823 Marmon Road at approximately 7:10 p.m. when it exited the roadway at a high rate of speed. The vehicle overturned and became submerged in the river. Kim was pronounced deceased while being transported to Lewis County General Hospital.
Kim’s passenger, 18-year-old Brody Webster of Herkimer, was also pronounced deceased, police said. A separate vehicle, a 2021 Mazda CX-5 operated solely by 21-year-old Christ Poh, also exited the roadway, struck a tree, and came to rest partially submerged in the water. Poh was able to exit the vehicle on his own before being transported to Wynn Hospital, where he was treated for unspecified injuries.
Multiple agencies responded to assist, including the New York State Police, the Lewis County Dive Team, Lewis County Search and Rescue, the New York State Environmental Conservation Police, and fire departments and ambulance services from Port Leyden, Lyons Falls, Glenfield, Constableville, Boonville, New Bremen, and Martinsburg. The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office expressed its sincere condolences to the families of those who were killed.
This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.
When a crash takes two lives and leaves a third person injured, the families left behind deserve to understand what legal options are available to them.
What to Do After a Fatal Car Accident in New York
Two people died, and one was injured on Lyonsdale Road on June 18, 2026. New York law gives the families of those killed and those who were hurt specific rights that exist regardless of where the investigation goes next.
- Can Webster’s family pursue a civil claim while the investigation is still open? Yes. A wrongful death claim in New York is entirely separate from any criminal process. The family does not need to wait for a charge, a conviction, or the close of the Sheriff’s Office investigation to begin. Both processes run on different timelines, and waiting can work against a civil claim.
- What can a wrongful death claim cover in New York? Under New York’s wrongful death statute (EPTL § 5-4.1), a claim may seek compensation for medical and funeral expenses, lost financial support the deceased would have provided, and the value of services to the family. The estate may also bring a survival claim for any conscious pain and suffering before death.
- What does it mean for a civil case that the BMW was traveling at a high rate of speed? Speed is a central factor in any negligence analysis. An attorney can request police reconstruction materials, vehicle event data, and any available footage from the roadway. That evidence helps establish what caused each vehicle to leave the road and whether a duty of care was breached.
- How does New York’s comparative fault rule affect a passenger’s claim? New York follows pure comparative negligence under CPLR § 1411. A court apportions fault among all parties, and a claimant’s recovery is reduced by their own percentage of fault, but not eliminated. Webster, as a passenger, would generally carry no fault for how the vehicle was operated.
- When must a claim be filed? New York’s wrongful death statute (EPTL § 5-4.1) requires a claim to be filed within two years of the date of death. For those who died on June 18, 2026, that deadline is June 18, 2028. For Christ Poh’s personal injury claim, the three-year statute of limitations under CPLR § 214 sets a deadline of June 18, 2029. Missing either deadline closes the door on any right to recover.
Contact Our Upstate New York Wrongful Death Attorneys
Losing an 18-year-old on a summer evening is the kind of loss a family does not prepare for. The questions that follow, about what happened, who bears responsibility, and what options exist, should not have to be answered alone.
Our Upstate New York wrongful death attorneys have represented families across Lewis County and throughout Upstate New York for more than four decades, including cases where speed on a rural road left permanent harm behind. The firm has taken cases to verdict rather than accept lowball offers, including a $3.2 million trial verdict when an insurer refused to pay fair value.
Police reports, vehicle data, and witness accounts from a crash like this do not stay available indefinitely. The sooner an attorney can begin securing that evidence record, the stronger any claim will be.
There is no cost to speak with us and no attorney fee of any kind unless we recover for you. Why Upstate New York families trust Stanley Law:
- Over 40 years representing seriously injured clients across Upstate New York and Northern Pennsylvania
- Joe Stanley: 19 consecutive Super Lawyers selections (2008–2026) and ABOTA Board Certified in Civil Trial Practice — fewer than 1% of U.S. trial lawyers hold that certification
- $3.2 million trial verdict and a $1 million verdict, obtained when insurers refused to offer fair value
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- We will never settle your case without your consent
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