Pin It
road ridge
On May 3rd, 2020 at 6:36 PM, Tompkins County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the area of Lick Street and Stevens Road in the Town of Groton for a report of a vehicle that struck a bicyclist and then fled the scene. While deputies were in route to the scene, deputies were updated that a red Nissan pickup truck with a bicycle embedded into the front bumper fled north on Lick Street. Groton Ambulance transported the bicyclist/victim to Cortland Regional Medical Center where the victim succumbed to her injuries. The victim has been identified as Jerrie Gavalchin, age 64 of Groton, NY.

The Tompkins County 911 center received multiple calls from witnesses giving deputies the location of the red Nissan pickup truck. With help from witnesses contacting the 911 center, Tompkins County Sheriff’s Deputies and New York State Troopers located the red Nissan pickup truck on Wood Road in the Town of Groton. Deputies observed the bicycle embedded into the front bumper of the red Nissan. Deputies identified the driver of the red Nissan as Jeffrey C. Skinner, age 43 of Groton, NY. Through further investigation deputies determined, that Skinner was intoxicated and subsequently arrested Skinner.

Skinner was charged with Vehicular Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class C Felony), Driving While Intoxicated with a prior conviction within the last 10 years (Felony) and leaving the scene of a Personal Injury Motor Vehicle Accident (Misdemeanor). Skinner was arraigned and released under the supervision of the Tompkins County Probation Department.

The New York State Police, Groton Police Department and Groton Fire Department assisted the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office.

v16i19
Pin It