In New York State, a man is facing DWI and criminal mischief charges after crashing his pickup truck into a tree, two lawnmowers and a house in the town of Schoharie on Dec. 2. According to law enforcement officials, the 54-year-old man was allegedly intoxicated when the incident occurred. News reports indicate that police were called to the scene on Barton Hill Road shortly after 11:35 p.m.
Sources say that no one was injured in the accident. However, one child and four adults are receiving aid from the American Red Cross after local authorities removed the family from the damaged home.
The alleged drunk driver was reportedly traveling west when his vehicle left the roadway. He was taken into custody at the scene and released on cash bail following his arraignment on the charges in Schoharie Town Court. The man, a resident of Herkimer, was scheduled to return to court later in the week.
A serious matter in the state of New York, DWI charges are associated with a number life-altering consequences upon conviction. Motorists that are charged with drunk driving could ultimately find themselves facing jail time, loss of their drivers’ licenses, fines, increased insurance premiums and motor vehicle surcharges. Convicted individuals also may be required to put ignition interlock devices on their cars.
Few additional details have been released concerning the alleged DWI discussed here. Dependent upon the facts of a particular case, it may be possible to mitigate the consequences of a drunk driving conviction in some situations. Alternately, deficiencies in the prosecution’s evidence could potentially lead to a dismissal of the charges. Drivers that are seeking to make informed decisions as they navigate the legal process may want to explore their options with a defense attorney that is familiar with the ins and outs of the criminal justice system.