A fatal crash in the town of Binghamton was the result of road rage, the Broome County Sheriff’s Office said Monday, fueled by an ongoing dispute between two drivers.
The crash, which happened around 3 a.m. Sunday at the intersection of Morgan Road and Cobblestone Court, resulted in the death of Charles Burrell Jr., 29, of Conklin.
Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar said in a press conference Monday afternoon the two drivers involved in the crash — Cody Diffendorf, 20, of Kirkwood, and James Macdowall, 26, of Binghamton — had been in an ongoing dispute over “women and narcotics activity,” and engaged in “reckless behavior” while traveling south on Morgan Road where they lost control of both vehicles.
What happened in Morgan Road fatal crash
Broome County Sheriff’s Office said their investigation revealed a Honda sedan driven by Macdowall rolled off the roadway Sunday. Burrell, who was a passenger in the car, was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.
A rental U-Haul truck, driven by Diffendorf, also drove off the road. Diffendorf and the passenger in the truck were not injured, and they called 911 from a nearby house. Macdowall, the sheriff’s office said, fled the scene on foot and was later found at his home near Orchard Park in Binghamton.
Background on this case: 1 dead, 2 drivers charged with manslaughter after 2-vehicle crash in Town of Binghamton
Akshar said the department is currently in the process of accident reconstruction, but through the evidence at the crime scene and information gathered from interviews that have been conducted, they believe both drivers are responsible for the crash.
“Our team is still in the process of gathering information and evidence,” he said Monday. “It’s very clear to me though, that this accident was avoidable, it was needless and it was certainly senseless.”
Drivers charged with manslaughter in fatal crash
Broome County District Attorney Paul Battisti said both drivers have been charged with second-degree manslaughter, but charges may be elevated as the investigation continues. If convicted, the charges could carry a sentence of up to 15 years in prison. Akshar said it is “entirely possible” other people may be charged in connection with the crash for “culpability with respect to the global investigation, not just the accident per se.”
Diffendorf was arraigned at the Broome County Correctional Facility and Macdowall received a bedside arraignment at UHS Wilson Medical Center in Johnson City where he is under observation.
After the charges are finalized, Battisti said, the case will be scheduled for a grand jury hearing.
“When we take things into our own hands, we lose lives,” Battisti said, “and unfortunately that is what we are facing here today.”
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Binghamton fatal crash result of road rage, drivers charged
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