VERONA, NY — A 46-year-old woman died in a single-vehicle crash Tuesday night after fleeing a traffic stop on State Route 365, according to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Robert Maciol said a deputy assigned to the DWI Unit stopped a Lexus SUV at approximately 9:18 p.m. on State Route 365 near the intersection of Greenway New London Road.
During the stop, the deputy discovered the driver, Brandy LaFlesh, of Oneida, was possibly wanted out of Oneida City Court.
While the deputy attempted to confirm the warrant, LaFlesh fled westbound on State Route 365 in the SUV.
The deputy did not pursue LaFlesh due to the sheriff’s office no-pursuit policy unless exigent circumstances are present.
At approximately 9:52 p.m., the Oneida County 911 Center dispatched law enforcement to a personal injury motor vehicle crash on Blackmans Corners Road.
Upon arrival, deputies discovered the vehicle involved was the same Lexus SUV that had fled the traffic stop.
LaFlesh was pronounced dead at the scene.
Her front-seat passenger, Michael Martino, 56, of Lee, sustained serious injuries after being ejected from the vehicle.
Martino was transported to Wynn Hospital by Vineall Ambulance with serious injuries.
The Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Unit and Forensic Identification Unit responded to assist with the investigation.
The sheriff’s office is reconstructing the accident.
Blackmans Corners Road was closed during the investigation but has since reopened.
The New York State Attorney General’s Office was contacted as required due to the deceased having been involved in a traffic stop initiated by the sheriff’s office prior to the crash.
The Attorney General’s Office arrived on scene to assist.
The New York State Police, Verona Fire Department and Vineall Ambulance Service also assisted at the scene.
