NORWICH – On the morning of New Year’s Day, a sleep deprived driver under the influence of marijuana blacked out and veered onto a sidewalk killing 68-year-old James C. Wright, according to authorities.

Prosecutors allege the driver was using marijuana and had stayed up all night, having not slept for 23 hours before the accident occurred.

“This is an extremely sad situation with extraordinary loss on all sides,” said Norwich Police Chief Reuben J. Roach.

On Thursday afternoon, a Chenango County grand jury indictment was unsealed and charged the driver, 20-year-old Wyatt J. Gould, of Plymouth, with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, driving under the influence and other crimes. Gould pleaded not guilty to all charges.

He was then released without bail.

Asked why Gould was released without any bail, Roach said it was a decision made in court, and he had no comment.

Chenango County District Attorney Michael Ferrarese said the driver is cooperating with investigators and had consented to having his blood tested.

According to investigators at about 8 a.m. on January 1, Gould was traveling in a 2003 Chevy Silverado east on Cortland Street. The truck left the road, crossed the sidewalk, went through a fence and crashed into a house. The street is a 30-mile-per-hour speed zone in a residential area. Gould was uninjured in the crash, said police.