State ruled at fault in former East Syracuse mayor’s death

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) – New York State is liable for the death of a former East Syracuse mayor, according to a state court of appeals.

Jason Rhoades was killed when his vehicle vaulted over a snow bank and then off of a bridge on I-81 on Jan. 23, 2004. His SUV crashed into a street below.

In November 2010, Judge Diane Fitzpatrick dismissed the liability claim.

Rhoades’ crash was one of two vaulting accidents that occurred over the course of a 36-hour period at the same location on I-81. The court said the state failed to remove a snow bank that had made the guard rail ineffective.

A similar accident occurred at the same location 10 years earlier.

The court reinstated the case and reversed Fitzpatrick’s decision.