MANLIUS -- 12:25 Update:
The Wampsville diner where Jessica Wingate worked is raising funds to help her family. Wingate worked the early morning shift at Knotty Pine Restaurant off Route 5 in Wampsville.
Owner Lee Ellsworth says Wingate had been working at the diner for about 8 weeks and was very popular with customers.
Ellsworth has set up a donation jar at his restaurant to help pay for funeral expenses. He's already raised close to $100 and will keep the jar up for the next week.
He also plans to put a plaque in memory of Wingate, who he calls one of his best employees.
Previous Coverage:
An Oneida man is charged in a fatal crash that happened on the New York State Thruway Sunday morning.
The crash happened around 1:00 a.m. on the Thruway heading east in Manlius.
State Police say a Chevy Trailblazer driven by 29-year-old Alan McCarthy went off the road, struck a guide rail, and flipped over. His passenger, 23-year-old Jessica Wingate from Earlville, was killed in the accident.
McCarthy was hospitalized for non-life threatening injuries. He was arrested and charged with vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated.
McCarthy was arraigned in the Town of Manlius Court and committed to the Onondaga County Justice Center in lieu of $10,000 cash/bond. He is expected to re-appear back in the Town of Manlius Court on Tuesday.
Original story:
An Earlville woman was killed early this morning, when the car she was riding in drifted off the State Thruway, hit a guardrail and then flipped back on the road.
State police say 23 year old Jessica Wingate was the victim, the man who was driving is now hospitalized.
It happened at milepost 273.8 eastbound, between the 34A and 34 interchanges, in Manlius, just before 1am on Sunday morning.
The crash blocked traffic for hours, with some cars allowed to pass the accident scene on the road's shoulder. All lanes were reopened about 6:30 Sunday morning.
State Police continue the investigation and say charges may be pending.
