Northern NY man convicted of manslaughter in deadly hit-and-run

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (WCAX) - Jurors have convicted a Northern New York man of manslaughter in a deadly hit-and-run in Plattsburgh.

It happened in September. Police say Thomas Lance, 38, of Albany County, ran over his boss, Wayne Haupt, 53, in the parking lot of the Exit 36 Truck Stop while driving Haupt’s pickup truck.

Investigators say it happened when Haupt confronted Lance about using the truck. They say Lance hit the gas with Haupt still hanging onto the side of the pickup. Haupt was dragged for several feet before he slipped off and was run over by the back wheels. Lance then took off, leading troopers on a 28-mile chase. They caught up with him in Long Lake and arrested him.

Clinton County DA Andrew Wylie says that on Monday, after a six-day trial, the jury found Lance guilty of second-degree manslaughter.

He will be sentenced in July.

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