A Mount Morris man has been charged with second degree murder, vehicular manslaughter, DWI and other crimes after a pair of car crashes that took place minutes apart in the City of Rochester Saturday evening.
Police say 48-year-old Frank Cassata intentionally drove off Lyell Avenue and into the yard of a house, striking a child and a young woman who were standing in the front yard. Three-year-old Amir Pallet was killed, and 23-year-old Abriel Fair was treated for non-life threatening injuries at Strong Memorial Hospital.
Cassata fled down Lyell Avenue to Lake Avenue, where his car crashed into another car pulling out of a parking lot at Lake and Phelps Avenues. That crash sent Cassata and his passenger as well as the two people in the other car to the hospital.
In addition to murder, vehicular manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident, Cassata has been charged with driving without a license, driving a vehicle with no registration or insurance and driving drunk. His case will be presented to a grand jury which may find other charges.
Cassata is being held without bail.