SMITHVILLE – A 31-year-old Smithville man is dead after a bar fight, according to the Chenango County Sheriff’s Department.

Sheriff Ernest R. Cutting said Chance E. Howey was pronounced dead at Wilson Memorial Regional Medical Center in Johnson City at about midnight Sunday, after sustaining injuries in a bar fight 24 hours earlier.

Cutting said Mr. Howey, a father of two, fell unconscious at around 1 p.m. Sunday and was taken to the hospital by the Greene Ambulance after family members dialed 911.

Lt. Richard Cobb said the Sheriff’s Office was told the victim was involved in a physical altercation at about 1 a.m. Sunday, outside of Seeber’s Tavern in the Town of Smithville.

“We began an assault investigation and identified the other person involved in the fight and located some witnesses. The victim then passed away at sometime just after midnight later that night,” said Cutting.

Cutting said witnesses reported Mr. Howey was drinking at Seeber’s before getting into a fight outside the bar. Following the altercation, Cutting said Mr. Howey was taken home by his father and went to bed.