Update:According to Oneida County Sheriff, Robert Maciol…

Update:According to Oneida County Sheriff, Robert Maciol, there has been an update regarding the Motor Vehicle Accident that occurred on Steadman Rd in the Town of Lee on 11/02/2025. The accident involved a single vehicle colliding with a tree, and there were no passengers present. The Forensic Identification Unit responded to the scene to assist with the investigation, and at this time it appears that speed is the primary contributing factor in the collision. The operator of the vehicle succumbed to his injuries at Rome Health shortly after the collision.

The deceased operator was identified as Owen C. Smith (Age 19) of Lee Center and the next of kin has been notified.

INITIAL PRESS RELEASE:According to Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol, on November 2nd, 2025, at around 8:40 p.m., Deputies were dispatched to Steadman Road in the Town of Lee for a report of a Motor Vehicle Accident with unknown injuries, called in through an iPhone crash notification.

Subsequent to an investigation, Deputies determined that a single vehicle was traveling south on Steadman Rd in the Town of Lee. While traveling south on Steadman Rd, the operator of the vehicle lost control and exited the eastern shoulder of the roadway before colliding with a tree. Deputies determined that the driver was the sole occupant of the vehicle and was later pronounced deceased as a result of the collision. The accident is still under investigation at this time.

Steadman Rd was closed for the duration of the investigation, but has since been reopened to the public.

The deceased’s name will not be released at this time.

The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on scene by the New York State Police, the Lee Center Volunteer Fire Department, and Amcare Ambulance.