CLAVERACK–The driver of a car being pursued by police was killed in a crash on Route 9H, March 5 at 2:19 p.m.
The driver was a 44-year-old Dutchess County man, David Carman of Dover Plains.
The incident began in the Village of Red Hook, where police there got a call about “a suspicious person” and pulled him over. Mr. Carman was driving a green Saturn that had been reported stolen from the Millbrook area earlier in the day.
A civilian reported that he was driving along looking into people’s yards and driveways, according to Livingston State Police Senior Investigator Gary Mazzacano.
When Red Hook Police pulled him over they discovered that he had “old [license] plates” on the car and there was something wrong with the identification he gave police. Wanting to question Mr. Carman about it, the officer returned to the Saturn after running the ID through the computer, but Mr. Carman sped away.
A Red Hook Police patrol car gave chase north on Route 9 and crossed into Columbia County, where State Police were waiting to attempt rolling roadblocks to slow the fleeing car. But Mr. Carman evaded the roadblocks and continued north on Route 9H at a high rate of speed, with police in pursuit, according to the investigator.
The car rounded a curve, crossed the centerline and careened into the path of a southbound dump truck driven by George Duryea, 33, of Nassau. The car went under the truck causing the truck to overturn on the west shoulder. Mr. Duryea escaped unharmed.
The car “was catapulted” into the Valley Oil Company parking lot on the east side of the highway, said Sr. Inv. Mazzacano.
Mr. Carman died at the scene.
State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit, the Greenport and Philmont rescue squads, Claverack firefighters and Coroner Angelo Nero assisted at the scene.
Sr. Inv. Mazzacano said that police have a written complaint from the owner of the car that Mr. Carman did not have permission to drive it, though police are not yet sure about where the old license plates came from.
The investigation continues.
*Livingston State Police were called to check out a reported vehicle driving into oncoming traffic February 27. Troopers found the suspect vehicle driving east in the westbound lanes on State Route 23 in Claverack. They stopped the vehicle and charged the driver, Maura O’Neil, 35, of Cairo, with felony driving while ability impaired by drugs and possession of a hypodermic instrument.
After talking to a passenger in the vehicle, Matthew Pering, 27, of Cairo, troopers discovered that he had allegedly given them a false name. They charged Mr. Pering with false personation and found that he was wanted on a warrant issued by the state Division of Parole for a parole violation. Both were arraigned in Claverack Court. Mr. Pering was sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $1,500 cash bail and Ms. O’Neil was released to reappear in court at a later date.
New Lebanon
Francis Valigorsky, 20, of Melrose, was charged with fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon and unlawful possession of marijuana by New Lebanon State Trooper Nicholas Lombardi the afternoon of March 4.
A passenger in a vehicle stopped on Route 20, West Lebanon, Mr. Valigorsky allegedly possessed brass knuckles and marijuana.
Mr. Valigorsky was arraigned in New Lebanon Court and posted $350 cash bail. He was ordered to return to court April 1.
Drugs and alcohol
The following face alcohol- and/or drug-related charges:
*Tammy Ingersoll, 21, of Elizaville was charged with possession of a hypodermic and seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (heroin) during a traffic stop by Livingston State Police on County Route 29, Claverack, March 4. She was sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $1,500 bail.
On February 28, Livingston State Police charged Ms. Ingersoll with possession of a hypodermic instrument and unlawful possession of marijuana during a traffic stop on County Route 19, Elizaville. She was released with an appearance ticket returnable in Livingston Court.
*Anthony Albano, 29, of Dalton, Mass., was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated, third degree aggravated unlicensed operation and failure to dim headlights by New Lebanon State Troopers Christopher Esposito and Joshua Bond during a traffic stop on Route 20, New Lebanon, March 7.
Police report that Mr. Albano’s blood alcohol content was nearly three times the legal limit at .23%. Mr. Albano is scheduled to appear in New Lebanon Court March 18.
*John G. Wolfe, 60, of Stockport was charged with driving while intoxicated by Livingston State Trooper Eric Buchinsky during a traffic stop on Columbia Street, Hudson, March 2.
He was released on tickets returnable in Hudson Court.
*Joseph Moore, 23, of Philmont was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs by Livingston State Police during a traffic stop on Route 9H, Claverack, February 20.
Police say that Mr. Moore told them he had smoked marijuana just prior to driving. He was released with tickets to return to Claverack Court at a later date.
*Patrick Mack, 50, of Hillsdale was charged with driving while intoxicated and unlawful possession of marijuana by Livingston State Police during a traffic stop on County Route 7A in Copake, February 21.
He was released with tickets to appear in Copake Court at a later date.
*Brandon Sager, 23, of Stuyvesant was charged with felony driving while intoxicated by Livingston State Police during a traffic stop on Route 9H, Ghent, February 22. He was arraigned in Ghent Court and sent to the county jail in lieu of $5,000 bail.
*Andrea Hodge, 23, of Kinderhook was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs, unlawful possession of marijuana and unsafe lane change by Deputies Brendan Filli and Michael Stelling after her vehicle was found in a snow bank along Route 203, Kinderhook, February 27 at 3:52 a.m. She was released with tickets and directed to appear in Kinderhook Town Court at a later date.
To contact Diane Valden email dvalden@columbiapaper.com.
