Lee, NY – A 19-year-old from Lee Center has been identified as the victim in a fatal crash that occurred Sunday night on Steadman Road, according to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Robert Maciol said deputies responded around 8:40 p.m. on November 2, 2025, after receiving an iPhone crash notification reporting a motor vehicle accident in the Town of Lee. Investigators determined the driver was traveling south when the vehicle lost control, left the roadway, and struck a tree.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the driver—identified as Owen C. Smith, 19, of Lee Center—was the sole occupant of the vehicle. He was transported to Rome Health, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The Forensic Identification Unit responded to assist, and preliminary findings indicate that speed was a primary contributing factor in the crash.
Steadman Road was temporarily closed during the investigation but has since reopened. The Sheriff’s Office was assisted on scene by New York State Police, the Lee Center Volunteer Fire Department, and Amcare Ambulance.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident.
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