May 12, 2015
Haynes waives felony hearing
CORTLANDVILLE — The Virgil man facing more than 20 charges after a fatal car crash that killed his 6-year-old daughter in April waived his right Monday to a felony hearing in Cortlandville Town Court.
The case against Daniel Haynes III, of 921 W. State Road, will move to Cortland County Court, where the decision to set bail will be determined by a county court judge, Town Justice Francis Casullo said at Monday’s hearing. A date for his next appearance has not been scheduled.
Haynes was arrested April 24 on more than 20 charges, including vehicular homicide, five counts of first-degree reckless endangerment and three counts of aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child in the vehicle, felonies.
He lost control of a Chevrolet Impala at about 8:30 p.m. while driving on West State Road and crashed into a utility pole across from the Virgil Fire Station, police said.
There were five passengers in the car at the time, including two adults and three of Haynes’ daughters, Alexia, 6; Asia, 8; and Ariana, 10. Alexia was killed in the accident. Asia and Ariana were taken to Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital in Syracuse with non-life-threatening injuries.
The adult passengers in the car, Devon Luoma, 21, of Dryden, and Joshua Gleason, 23, of Virgil, told police that Haynes had been drinking the day of the accident. In his statement to police, Luoma said Haynes had been drinking with him since as early as 2 p.m. that day. Gleason said Haynes was drinking at 6 p.m. when Gleason arrived at Haynes’ home. Gleason also told police that Haynes planned to leave the girls with a baby-sitter so the adults could go drinking in downtown Cortland. Luoma told police he saw the speedometer go over 100 mph during the trip.
Both men told police that the car struck the utility pole on the side where the three girls were sitting. None of the children were reportedly wearing seat belts.
Luoma was treated for minor injuries at Cortland Regional Medical Center. Gleason was unhurt.
Haynes will continue to be held in Cortland County Jail following his appearance Monday. Casullo declined to consider bail for Haynes. At an earlier appearance for Haynes on April 27, Casullo expressed his concerns about Haynes’ mental state, and District Attorney Mark Suben urged Casullo not to set bail, saying jail would be the “safest place” for Haynes.
Casullo will refer the matter to Cortland County Court, which will have jurisdiction.
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