Fatal Fulton County crash leads to Thanksgiving safe driving message

FULTON COUNTY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Many law enforcement agencies will be increasing patrols for impaired drivers during the holiday week. The Thanksgiving holiday is known to be one of the biggest travel days of the year but as the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office says, it is also the deadliest time of year for drunk driving.

“Thanksgiving is one of the busiest drinking nights in the bars. It's contrary to what people think is New Year's Eve. It's not New Year's Eve,” said Fulton County Sheriff Richard Giardino. He says this week they see many college kids who come home and hit the bars to catch up with friends. “It's the first long weekend they've had at home, and we see a lot of drinking, a lot of reckless conduct.”

His office is already investigating a fatal accident this week that happened early Monday morning. “It was high speeds, as much as 100 miles an hour by the driver who was intoxicated. There were six kids in the car. They had spent a couple hours together. Some were drinking.”

The sheriff tells NEWS10’s Reporter, James De La Fuente, the car was traveling on Brockett Hill Road in Oppenheim when, “the car went off, the road veered and a passenger got ejected and died at the scene. Two girls are still in the hospital with broken ribs. One's got a broken back, and two other boys were brought to hospitals. There were six people in that car,” said Giardino.

The sheriff says Corbin Wrobel, also known as Corbin Baker, was the passenger who passed away. He says 20-year-old Samuel Johnson was arrested and charged with vehicular manslaughter and DWI as well as traffic violations. Johnson was arraigned and released on pretrial release even though the county’s district attorney asked for bail to be set at $300,000.

A lawyer with Tully Rinckey says the punishment for those convicted of impaired driving can be severe if there are fatalities. “If he's convicted of the top count, yes, he's looking at a potential term of imprisonment in a New York State correctional facility,” said Derrick Hogan, Partner with Tully Rinckey.

To get around safely during the holiday season, some Capital Region organizations and businesses are offering help. “What we are doing this year is we're doing 1,000  $20 Uber vouchers, meaning you go to our website, you'll see it, click on it, and you'll get a $20 voucher for Uber, Safe Ride Home. And it begins tomorrow, Wednesday at noon. And it goes that night until two in the morning,” said Paul Harding, Managing Partner, Harding and Mazzotti.

The sheriff says this week's crash could have been avoided and wants to get his message out. “Call your parents. Call your sober friends. Call your aunt or uncle. Call somebody for a ride or stay where you are,” said Sheriff Giardino.