18-year-old driver smoked cannabis before fatal Waterford crash

WATERFORD ( NEWS10 ) — Everhett Hatlee, 18, of Troy, has been charged with multiple offenses following a single-car crash in Waterford on Saturday that resulted in the death of 14-year-old Kiera Ebert.

Kiera’s father, James, told News10 that she was a great and cheerful child who had just graduated from the ninth grade and was looking forward to starting high school in the fall. He shared that Kiera loved playing baseball, basketball, and soccer, and was involved in the band and chorus at her school. James mentioned that Kiera loved children and wanted to work with babies when she grew older.

Kiera’s 16-year-old brother was in the back seat of the car at the time of the crash and was taken to Albany Medical Center with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to police. James stated that his son had broken ribs and a collapsed lung, and had just come out of surgery on his leg, but is doing well considering the extent of his injuries.

Court documents indicate that Hatlee admitted to having smoked cannabis before operating the car on Saturday evening. Blood test results are pending. Hatlee is facing three felony charges, including first-degree manslaughter causing the death of a child passenger.

Hatlee was arraigned at the Waterford Police Department and transferred to the Saratoga County Jail. The jail confirmed that Hatlee is no longer in their custody but did not disclose whether he had been released on bail.

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