Jeffrey Skinner, 44, of Groton, pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter in the first degree, two counts of driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of a personal injury incident without reporting. He also waived his right to appeal.
Skinner admitted to operating a vehicle while intoxicated on May 3, 2020 in Groton, causing the death of Jerrie Gavalchin, 64, also of Groton. Gavalchin, a professor at Cornell University, had been walking her bicycle along the fog line of Lick Street when the defendant struck her with his vehicle, causing fatal injuries. Skinner also admitted to leaving the scene without calling 911.Â
The maximum possible sentence is a term of five to 15 years in New York State prison.Â
A 44-year-old Groton man pleaded guilty in Tompkins County Court Thursday to felony first-degree vehicular manslaughter, two counts of felony driving while intoxicated and felony leaving the scene of a personal injury incident without reporting all charges which stemmed from the May 2020 crash that resulted in the death of 64-year-old Cornell Professor Jerrie Gavalchin, of Groton.
Gavalchin was walking her bicycle along the fog line of Lick Street in Groton when Jeffrey Skinner struck her with his vehicle, causing her to suffer fatal injuries. Skinner admitted to leaving the scene of the accident without calling 911.
The maximum possible sentence for Skinner is five to 15 years in prison.