NY Man Mike Rounds ID’d As Victim In Thursday Montague Fatal UTV Crash

MONTAGUE, NY. (THECOUNT) — Michael E. Rounds, 61, of Carthage, New York, was killed Thursday after the utility terrain vehicle he was operating was struck by a pickup truck on Liberty Road in the town of Montague, according to New York State Police. The pickup was driven by Lucas J. Goutermout, 26, of Copenhagen.

Montague is located in Lewis County in northern New York, approximately 75 miles north of Syracuse and east of Lake Ontario.

New York State Police said troopers responded to the crash at approximately 5:06 p.m. Thursday on Liberty Road.

According to investigators, two utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) traveling north had stopped after a belt broke on a 2023 Yamaha, leaving the machine disabled.

Police said Rounds, who was operating a 2024 Polaris UTV, turned around and attempted to help tow the disabled Yamaha when his vehicle was struck by a northbound 2023 Ram pickup driven by Goutermout.

The impact caused the Polaris to spin and overturn, resulting in fatal injuries to Rounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators said Goutermout then attempted to avoid the collision by steering into the southbound lane, where the pickup struck a third UTV, a 2017 Polaris operated by John I. Failing, 80, of Pearl River.

Neither Goutermout nor Failing was injured. Both remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.

State police said a certified Drug Recognition Expert conducted standardized field sobriety testing on Goutermout and found no signs of impairment.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Authorities have not announced whether any charges are anticipated.

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