Troopers charge Wellsville man with vehicular manslaughter for July 4 ATV crash in Alma

A Wellsville man has been charged with vehicular manslaughter and other charges in connection with a deadly ATV crash in July.

Amity-based New York State Police Thursday arrested Jesse M. Bestine, 26, on felony counts of second-degree vehicular manslaughter and second-degree vehicular assault and misdemeanor driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs.

According to police, the charges came after an investigation into the Fourth of July crash that killed 25-year-old Zachary J. Barnett of Wellsville.

Troopers said Bestine was driving an ATV with Barnett as a passenger when the vehicle crashed at about 10 p.m. on county Road 38 in Alma. Police said the eastbound ATV reportedly swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle before overturning several times.

Barnett died at the scene. Bestine was treated at Jones Memorial in Wellsville and later transferred to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester with non-life threatening injuries. State police said the investigation into the crash was continuing at the time of the incident.

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A state police report Thursday said Bestine was being held in custody, but no court information was immediately released.

This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Troopers charge Wellsville man with vehicular manslaughter for July 4 ATV crash in Alma