Herkimer County father charged with endangering his teenage son in wake of wreck between dirt bike and motor vehicle

HERKIMER COUNTY- A wreck between a dirt bike and a vehicle has resulted in the arrest of a local father for allegedly endangering his own teenage son.

According to the New York State Police, William Owens, 50, of Newport, NY was formally charged late last month for one misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child.

Investigators say this arrest stems from an accident on August 26 on Military Road, town of Norway.

Troopers said a Kawasaki dirt bike smashed into a GMC vehicle. Giuseppe J. Owens, 15, of Newport, NY was reportedly operating the dirt bike in a northwesterly direction.

As he approached a crest in the road, Troopers said that Giuseppe failed to keep right and was unable to stop or get out of the way from the oncoming GMC, which was being driven by Lorraine A. Hennings-Grabowski, age 48, of Newport, NY.

Giuseppe struck the driver’s side of the GMC.

Investigators did note that Giuseppe was using the dirt bike on a public roadway and at a high rate of speed when the wreck occurred.

He was taken by Kuyahoora Ambulance to Wynn Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Earlier this spring, State Troopers found out that Giuseppe was involved in a previous dirt bike related incident on April 12 on the White Creek Road in the town of Newport.

Following that case months ago, his father, William, was reportedly advised by Troopers to ensure his son did not ride dirt bikes on public roadways.

You may remember when the State Police publically addressed several complaints about dirt bikes, ATV’s and UTV’s running at high rates of speed in that general portion of Herkimer County.

Authorities said the charge against Giuseppe’s father is for allegedly allowing him to run his dirt bike on a public roadway.

Troopers will continue looking into other complaints that surface.

NYSP image.