South Seneca 4th grade student dies in crash

A fatal car crash in the Town of Covert, Seneca County, claimed the life of a young girl late Friday afternoon.

Ellamae McLaughlin died as a result of the accident, according to a press release from the South Seneca Central School District.

Ellamae was a fourth grade student at South Seneca Elementary School in Interlaken.

Seneca County Sheriff W. Timothy Luce reported the accident occurred around 5:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, on State Route 89 and Frontenac Road in the Town of Covert, north of Taughannock Falls State Park. Emergency responders from neighboring communities, including Trumansburg and Ithaca, responded to the single-vehicle crash.McLaughlin drove off the east side of the road, struck a culvert and several trees before the car careened down a steep embankment and landed in a small body of water, deputies said. McLaughlin suffered a severe hand injury and was also taken to Cayuga Medical Center for treatment.Deputies said two other passengers, both 12-year-old girls, suffered minor injuries and were taken to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester for treatment.

Deputies said rescue efforts required rope rescue teams. Trumansburg Public Information Officer Lt. Alix Gresov said the victims were trapped and that steep terrain, cold temperatures and moving water "added to the complexity of the call.”

The road was closed for four hours as sheriff’s deputies and sheriff’s investigators reconstructed the scene.

A school crisis team met over the weekend to prepare for the return of students on Monday following winter break. The school district state that counseling staff is available this week "for those most closely affected by the grief we all share at the news."Includes reporting by Victoria Freile of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle and Patrick Harney of the Canandaigua Daily Messenger.

This article originally appeared on Ithaca Journal: South Seneca elementary student Ellamae McLaughlin dies in gorge crash