Katonah Man Charged With Manslaughter in Fatal Car Crash

Christopher Abele of Katonah is facing up to seven years in prison if he is convicted of charges related to a car crash in Pawling that resulted in the death of a 19-year-old Pawling resident, according to the Dutchess County District Attorney's office.

Abele, 20, was arraigned Monday in Dutchess County Court and charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter, a felony, and two misdemeanor counts of driving while intoxicated, said Jessica Segal, senior assistant district attorney.

The crash occured  March 5 in Pawling and resulted in the death of Michael McKenna, 19, she told Patch.

The Poughkeepsie Journal reports that McKenna was killed when the car Abele was driving rolled over on West Dover Road in Pawling, according to Dutchess County sheriff’s deputies.

Abele entered not guilty pleas to all charged and was released on $20,000 bail. Abele will return to court with his attorney, James O'Neil of the Poughkeepsie law firm O'Neil and Burke, LLC, on July 21, said Segal.