Town of Cayuta, NY (July 5, 2026) – A passenger seated in the rear of a 2023 Tesla was killed and three others were injured early Sunday morning after the Tesla failed to stop for a red traffic signal and was struck by a Dodge Charger at the intersection of State Route 224 and State Route 13, according to the New York State Police.
State Police from SP Dundee and SP Montour Falls responded at approximately 4:58 a.m. to the Schuyler County intersection following reports of a serious personal injury crash. The preliminary investigation determined the Tesla, operated by a 25-year-old whose name has not been released, was traveling northbound on State Route 224 when it entered the intersection against a red light. A 2023 Dodge Charger operated by Bryan J Woodworth, 52, of Elmira, was traveling eastbound on State Route 13 with a green signal, police say. The Tesla entered the path of the Charger and the two vehicles collided at the intersection.
The Tesla carried four people. The rear passenger was pronounced deceased at Robert Packer Hospital. The 25-year-old Tesla operator sustained serious non-life-threatening injuries and was transported from Guthrie Corning Hospital to Robert Packer Hospital for additional treatment. Two other Tesla passengers were also taken to Robert Packer Hospital, one for serious life-threatening injuries and one who was evaluated and reported to have no apparent injuries. Woodworth was transported to Arnot Ogden Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries.
The State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and Forensic Identification Unit all responded to assist. The investigation remains ongoing.
This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.
A crash that kills a passenger before sunrise, at an intersection where one vehicle had a green light, leaves families with grief and urgent questions. The people hurt in both vehicles have legal rights that are worth understanding now, while the scene evidence is fresh.
What to Do After a Fatal Two-Vehicle Crash in New York
When a driver runs a red light and causes a fatal collision, passengers in both vehicles may have legal options. Those options run on separate timelines from the criminal investigation.
- Wrongful death claims: Under New York law (EPTL § 5-4.1), the estate of a passenger killed by another driver’s negligence can pursue a wrongful death claim. Families have two years from the date of death to file. For this crash, that deadline is July 5, 2028.
- Personal injury claims for surviving passengers: Tesla passengers who survived with injuries may file their own personal injury claims separate from the wrongful death action. New York’s three-year statute of limitations applies (CPLR § 214), placing that deadline at July 5, 2029.
- The civil claim does not require the criminal case to close: Law enforcement’s investigation and a civil lawsuit operate on separate tracks. Families do not have to wait for charges to be filed or an investigation to conclude before speaking with an attorney.
- Evidence moves fast after a crash: Intersection camera footage may overwrite within days. The NYSP crash report, vehicle data, and medical records should all be requested as soon as they become available. An attorney can help preserve what matters before it disappears.
- Do not give statements to insurance companies: Any recorded statement to a driver’s insurer, made before consulting an attorney, can be used to limit or deny compensation later. This applies to anyone involved, including Woodworth and the surviving Tesla passengers.
Contact Our Upstate New York Wrongful Death Attorneys
Losing someone at an intersection in the early hours of a Sunday morning, while riding as a passenger with no role in causing what happened, is a loss no family is prepared for. The days that follow are disorienting, and the legal questions that come with them, about who is responsible and what the family is entitled to, should not fall on grieving people to figure out alone.
Stanley Law Offices has represented families across Upstate New York after fatal crashes, including collisions caused by drivers who disregarded traffic signals. Our Upstate NY wrongful death lawyers work directly with families to build the strongest possible case from the evidence available, including crash reconstruction, vehicle data, and witness accounts. For surviving passengers pursuing their own claims, our Upstate New York car accident attorneys can advise on the separate personal injury process.
Intersection camera footage and black box data from the Tesla can overwrite or become harder to access as time passes. The sooner an attorney is involved, the better the chance of preserving what the case will need.
There is no upfront cost to speak with us. We work on contingency, which means no fees unless we recover for you.
Why families across Upstate New York and Northern Pennsylvania turn to Stanley Law Offices:
- 90+ years of combined legal experience
- Joe Stanley, Board Certified in Civil Trial Practice by the American Board of Trial Advocacy
- Offices in Syracuse, Binghamton, Rochester, Watertown, Oneonta, and Montrose, PA
- Virtual consultations available — location is never a barrier to getting answers
- No fee unless we win your case
Talk With an Upstate New York Wrongful Death Attorney — Call 1-800-608-3333
We offer free consultations, and virtual appointments are available for families who cannot come in. Call us or reach out online, and we will get back to you.
