HUDSON--Lars Haas, 18, of New Lebanon got the maximum sentence for second degree vehicular manslaughter--2  1/3 to 7 years in state prison--when he was sentenced in Columbia County Court, Tuesday, July 27.

Also on the vehicular manslaughter charge, a class D felony, Columbia County Judge Jonathan Nichols ordered Mr. Haas to pay a $5,000 fine.

On a charge of second degree vehicular assault, a class E felony, Mr. Haas was sentenced to 1 1/3 to 4 years in state prison and on misdemeanor driving while intoxicated, he was sentenced to a year in jail.

The charges stem from a September 25, 2009 auto accident at the intersection of Routes 22 and 295 in Canaan. Robert Meehan, 72, of Chatham died as a result of the accident and Alesha O'Dell, 17, of Old Chatham was seriously injured.

Mr. Haas was driving his mother's 2008 Pontiac Vibe northbound on Route 22, when he failed to stop for a red light at the Route 295 intersection at 8:43 p.m.

A Columbia County Sheriff's Office investigation revealed that Mr. Haas sped up as he approached the intersection and even passed several vehicles before ignoring the red light and crashing into the side of a 2001 GMC pickup truck driven by Mr. Meehan, who was headed west on Route 295 and had a green light. Not wearing a seatbelt, Mr. Meehan was thrown from his truck by the accident impact. He died at the Albany Medical Center November 14, 2009.

Mr. Haas pleaded guilty to the charges May 25.

All sentences are to run concurrently because they relate to one criminal transaction, according to First Assistant District Attorney Michael Cozzolino, who handled the case for the DA's Office.

Mr. Haas was represented by Gennaro Calabrese of the Kindlon, Shanks and Associates law firm in Albany.

Three people delivered victim impact statements: Lisa and Bridget Arnold, who were related to Mr. Meehan, and Ms O'Dell, who was a backseat passenger in the Haas vehicle and suffered permanent injuries, said Mr. Cozzolino.

Mr. Haas apologized to the victims' families. He still has an outstanding unrelated burglary charge that will be the subject of a conference between his attorney and the DA's Office.

Mr. Haas' mother, Susan Haas, 52, of New Lebanon, still has charges pending against her in New Lebanon Court for allegedly allowing three teenagers to drink alcohol in her presence prior to the accident.

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