Cortland man charged with reckless endangerment after 19-year-old passenger falls from moving pickup truck in Moravia

Cortland, New York – A 32-year-old Cortland man has been arrested after a 19-year-old passenger was seriously injured when he reportedly fell from the bed of a moving pickup truck in the town of Moravia, according to New York State Police.

Cody B. Carroll, 32, of Cortland, was taken into custody on August 23 following an investigation into the incident, which happened several days earlier. The investigation began after troopers were called to a residence in Moravia for a welfare check late at night.

State Police from SP Auburn responded to a residence on Congress Street in the village of Moravia at approximately 11:58 p.m. on August 19. When troopers arrived, they found Tanner P. Welsh, 19, of Moravia, suffering from an apparent arm injury, cuts and other injuries.

Welsh was initially transported by ambulance to Cortland Medical Center. Because of the seriousness of his injuries, he was later transferred to Upstate University Hospital for further treatment.

Investigators determined that the incident involved a group of people who had been traveling together earlier in the evening. According to State Police, Carroll allegedly purchased alcohol and provided it to Welsh and two other individuals before the group traveled to Ithaca.

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The group later returned to the Moravia area. Investigators say Welsh and the two other individuals were riding in the bed of Carroll’s 2020 Ram pickup truck when the incident occurred.

According to the investigation, Carroll was allegedly driving at a high rate of speed on Chestnut Ridge Road while the three individuals were in the truck bed. During the drive, Welsh fell from the moving pickup.

Welsh was later found unconscious in a ditch. He suffered serious injuries as a result of the fall, prompting the investigation by State Police.

Authorities continued investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash and the events that led up to it. Four days after the incident, investigators located Carroll at a residence in the town of Locke.

Carroll was arrested on August 23 and charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, a Class D felony, and first-degree unlawful dealing with a child, a Class A misdemeanor.

Following his arrest, Carroll was taken to the Cayuga County Jail for CAP arraignment.

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The charges stem from allegations made during the State Police investigation, and the case remains active. Authorities have not indicated that the investigation has been completed.

State Police said the investigation remains ongoing as investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the events leading to Welsh being in the bed of the pickup and the circumstances of his fall.

The incident serves as another investigation involving the dangers associated with passengers riding in the open bed of a moving vehicle, particularly when a vehicle is allegedly traveling at a high rate of speed. In this case, the 19-year-old passenger suffered serious injuries and required treatment at two medical facilities.

Further information about the case may be released as the investigation continues.