Dakota M. Keister dies in fatal Chemung County motorcycle crash

Dakota M. Keister dies in fatal Chemung County motorcycle crash

Fatal Chemung County motorcycle crash death of Dakota M. Keister

A 22-year-old man from Southport, identified as Dakota M. Keister, lost his life in a motorcycle crash near Interstate 86 in Chemung County on the evening of June 19.

Authorities responded to the accident at around 5:37 p.m. at the exit 54 off-ramp leading into Horseheads. Upon arrival, deputies found Keister unresponsive and pronounced him dead at the scene.

According to witnesses, Keister had been riding at an excessive speed and weaving dangerously between vehicles before exiting the highway. He failed to safely take a curve at the off-ramp, crashing into a guardrail, which caused him to be thrown from the motorcycle.

The Chemung County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division conducted a detailed review and confirmed that high speed and erratic driving were contributing factors in the crash.

Personnel from the Town and Country Fire Department, Erway Ambulance, and the New York State Police assisted at the scene as part of the emergency response.