UPDATE: Teen charged with vehicular homicide

UPDATED 2 p.m.

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CANAAN – A Columbia County teen has been charged with vehicular homicide in connection with a Sept. 26 accident.

Lars Haas, 17, is also charged with vehicular assault, driving while intoxicated, operating a motor vehicle with a BAC of.08 percent of more, driving while ability impaired by drugs, driving while ability impaired by drugs and alcohol, reckless driving, passing in a no-passing zone and passing a red traffic light. 

Witnesses told investigators 17-year-old Lars Haas, behind the wheel of a Pontiac Vibe, ran a red light and crashed into the side of a pickup truck.

The other driver, 72-year-old Robert Meehan of Chatham, was ejected from the truck. He was flown to Albany Medical Center where he was initially listed in critical but stable condition in the ICU.

Meehan died Nov. 14 from injuries he sustained in the accident. 

Police say Haas had been drinking within two hours before the accident at his home with his mother and other individuals, at least two of whom were underage.

He tested .08 percent for blood alcohol content level, and positive for marijuana. 

The backseat passenger, 17-year-old Alesha O’Dell of Chatham, who deputies said was not wearing a seatbelt, was taken to Berkshire Medical Center and later airlifted to Albany Med with serious internal injuries.

Haas and the front-seat passenger 16-year-old Michael Hotaling of East Nassau were also taken to BMC.

Haas's mother, Susan Haas, was charged with unlawfully dealing with a child for allowing three underage individuals to drink alcoholic beverages at her home while she was present. 

Susan Haas was released on her own recognizance; Lars Haas remains in county jail on $25,000 cash bail.