Woman, teen charged in fatal motorcycle crash

BRANT, N.Y. (WIVB) - The Erie County Sheriff's Office has announced new charges against a 27-year-old woman and 16-year-old boy who they say lied about a fatal car accident on Route 20 on the Seneca Nation.

Investigators say 53-year-old Charles Phillips of Derby died when a Ford Mustang turned into the path of his motorcycle on July 21st around 11 p.m. At the time, 27-year-old Jessica Mann of Dunkirk and a 16-year-old boy told investigators that the boy had been driving the car. Both Mann and the boy provided written statements saying that as well.

Deputies investigated and say they found a digital recording from a store near the accident scene and another from over ten miles away that show Mann was behind the wheel at the time of the crash.

Mann was arrested on Tuesday and charged with giving a false written statement, obstructing governmental administration, failure to yield the right of way, unlicensed operation and conspiracy. She was arraigned in Town of Brant Court and is being held on $2,500 bail. Mann is also being detained by federal authorities for an incident in Dunkirk this past February, though deputies did not elaborate further.

The 16-year-old boy has also been charged with giving a false written statement, obstructing governmental administration, and conspiracy.