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New York State Police Investigate Fatal UTV Crash in Town
of Montague
Published: August 07, 2026
at 10:20 a.m.
By: Press Release
from New York State Police
New York State Police investigate fatal UTV crash in the town of Montague
On August 6,
2026, at approximately 5:06 p.m., the New York State Police responded to a
fatal motor vehicle crash on Liberty Road in the town of Montague, Lewis
County.
The investigation
determined that two UTVs were stopped northbound on Liberty Road due to one
2023 Yamaha being disabled due to a broken belt.
The operator of
the second UTV, a 2024 Polaris, turned around and attempted to assist with
towing the disabled UTV. While doing so, the 2024 Polaris was struck by a
northbound 2023 Ram pickup truck operated by Lucas J. Goutermout, 26, of Copenhagen, NY. The impact
caused the UTV to spin and overturn.
The operator of
the 2024 Polaris, Michael E. Rounds, 61, of Carthage, NY, was
pronounced deceased at the scene.
Following the
collision, the operator of the pickup truck attempted to veer left into the
southbound lane and struck a third UTV, a 2017 Polaris, operated by John
I. Failing, 80, of Pearl River, NY.
Failing and Goutermout reported no injuries and
remained at the scene.
A Drug
Recognition Expert conducted standardized field sobriety testing on Goutermout, and no signs of impairment were
observed.
The investigation
remains ongoing.
New York State
Police were assisted at the scene by Lewis County Search and Rescue and the
Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
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