Cortland, NY (July 29, 2026) – A 22-year-old man was arrested after a three-vehicle wreck sent two people to the hospital at Main and Tompkins streets on Tuesday morning, July 28, according to Cortland Police. Investigators say Matthew Eckstrom was driving south on Main Street at more than 40 mph in a 25-mph zone shortly before 11 a.m.
Police allege Eckstrom made an unsafe lane change without signaling, ran a red light, and continued south at high speed before driving into an oncoming lane to pass slowed traffic near an active construction zone. He narrowly avoided a head-on collision near Main and Tompkins before running through another red light and striking the side of a vehicle traveling lawfully through the intersection.
Two people in that vehicle were taken to Guthrie Cortland Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Eckstrom was charged with two counts of third-degree assault, reckless driving, reckless endangerment, and several traffic violations.
We hope both injured people have a full recovery.
How Do Investigators Reconstruct a Driver’s Path Before a Crash?
When a driver’s actions leading up to a crash are in question, investigators piece together a timeline using witness accounts, traffic camera footage, and physical evidence like skid marks or debris patterns. Each of these pieces helps confirm speed, lane position, and timing at different points along the route.
Nearby construction zones can add helpful detail to this kind of reconstruction, since crews and equipment present at the time may have witnessed part of the sequence. Investigators interview anyone working in the area who may have seen a vehicle behaving unusually.
Charges like reckless driving or reckless endangerment typically require investigators to establish a pattern of behavior rather than a single isolated mistake. Documenting multiple violations across a single route, as alleged here, can help build a clearer picture of intent and awareness leading up to the crash.
