ALBANY – Governor Andrew Cuomo Wednesday announced that state and local law enforcement agencies throughout New York will be stepping up patrols to crack down on impaired driving during the busy holiday travel season.

The enforcement campaign will run from Wednesday, Dec. 11 through Wednesday, Jan. 1. Part of the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” initiative, the governor’s office said the crackdown is designed to reduce alcohol and drug-related traffic crashes. It is sponsored by Special Traffic Options Program for Driving While Intoxicated, with funding from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.

“We want New Yorkers to travel safely so they can celebrate the holidays with their friends and families,” Governor Cuomo said. “I am asking every driver to consider the danger they pose to themselves and others when they choose to drive impaired. There will be zero tolerance for impaired driving, and state and local law enforcement will be highly visible to ensure that every impaired driver is caught and held accountable.”

To kick off the enforcement campaign, a press event was held today at Crossgates Mall in Albany. GTSC and Department of Motor Vehicles officials were joined by state and local law enforcement and STOP-DWI coordinators from across the state. Following the event, shoppers had an opportunity to wear specialized goggles that demonstrate the effects of drug and alcohol impairment and to better understand how a person’s ability to drive is impacted by using drugs or alcohol.

During the 2018 enforcement campaign, law enforcement throughout the state arrested 4,142 people for impaired driving and issued 144,197 tickets for other vehicle and traffic law violations.

A major component of New York’s efforts to combat impaired driving is the Special Traffic Options Program for Driving While Intoxicated. The state’s STOP-DWI program is the nation’s first self-sustaining impaired driving program. The program is funded from fines paid by convicted impaired drivers. Program coordinators are comprised of diverse professional backgrounds, including law enforcement and non-law enforcement.  

EDITORS NOTE: Updated Monday, April 9 at 9:35 a.m. to include name of victim.

CARROLTON, NY – A Cattaraugus County man faces charges of vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated following a fatal, two-vehicle crash in the town of Carrollton.

The Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office says the collision took place Wednesday night on Route 417. An investigation determined that a vehicle operated by 47 year-old John McStraw of Olean attempted to pass a semi-trailer and struck an oncoming vehicle driven by Fred Kemp, 48, of Kill Buck, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

McStraw was arraigned in Carrollton Town Court and is being held in Cattaraugus County Jail on $15,000 bail.

Chautauqua County Sheriff Deputies responded to a two vehicle accident on Ellery-Centralia Rd. in the Town of Ellery at about 9 p.m. Wednesday night. Following an investigation, deputies found 64 year-old Randall Samuelson of Bemus Point to have veered into oncoming traffic striking another vehicle. No injuries were reported.

Samuelson was found to be allegedly intoxicated, arrested and determined to have a blood alcohol content of .36. The legal limit is .08.

He was charged with Aggravated DWI, DWI, consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle, failure to keep right, and refusal to take roadside breath test.

Samuelson will appear in the Town of Ellery Court.

City police say 18 year-old Dale Linkous was seen driving a truck around 3:30 a.m. Saturday in the area of Barrett and Newland Avenues when it went off the road and got stuck on a curb. When officers approached, Linkous allegedly revved the engine and the truck lurched forward across the road, went into a yard, and struck a home on Newland Ave.

An investigation found Linkous to be highly intoxicated and in possession of cocaine and marijuana.  He was also believed to be involved in two hit-and-run accidents with vehicles parked on the road.

Linkous faces numerous charges and was sent to the city jail to await arraignment.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced this week that there will be a statewide crackdown on impaired and reckless driving during Super Bowl weekend.

The New York State Police and local law enforcement agencies will implement the campaign, which includes underage drinking enforcement, increased patrols and sobriety checkpoints to deter, identify, and arrest impaired drivers. The campaign will run from Saturday, February 4 until 4 a.m. Monday, February 6.

Chautauqua County sheriff’s deputies say the crash occurred just before 2 a.m. on Route 380 at Pickard Rd. Sinclairville, NY. for a vehicle that had struck a utility pole. While looking inside the unoccupied vehicle through smashed-out windows, sheriff’s deputies observed an assault rifle with numerous loaded magazine, a sawed off shotgun, commercial and homemade fireworks, and throwing stars.

An investigation led to 29-year-old Michael Thompson being found at a near-by residence. He was taken into custody and charged with DWI; DWI per se (Misdemeanor); Criminal Possession of a Weapon – 3rd Degree for  possession of an assault weapon with large capacity ammunition feeding devices – 8 magazines (D-Felony); Criminal Possession of a Weapon – 4th Degree – five throwing stars (A-Misdemeanor); and Unlawful Possession of Fireworks (B-Misdemeanor).

Thompson was arraigned in Ellery Town Court, where bail was set at $75,000 cash and sent to the county jail.

John Hillman

MAYVILLE – A Jamestown man linked to a fatal car crash in the town of Carroll last year has been sentenced to 18 months in the Chautauqua County Jail.

Chautauqua County District Attorney Patrick Swanson says 37 year-old John Hillman was sentenced on Dec. 19 of one year and a definite sentence of six months in the county jail for his convictions of criminally negligent homicide and driving while intoxicated. The charges stem from a Dec. 6 2015 crash in which Hillman was driving on Ivory Road and lost control of his vehicle.

As a result of the crash, 39-year-old Chalise Hebner of Pittsfield,Pa. was killed.

Also sentenced was 22 year-old Brett Lutz of Jamestown, who was handed a determinate sentence of 8 years in state prison plus 10 years of post-release supervision for a conviction of first-degree criminal sex act.

But for people planning to indulge in alcoholic beverages during their celebrations, local police are reminding them not to get behind the wheel.

Chautauqua County Sheriff Joe Gerace says local police agencies will once again participate in the New York State STOP-DWI Holiday Enforcement Crackdown, which begins Friday, Dec. 16 and continues through Monday, Jan. 2.

In Chautauqua County, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, municipal law enforcement agencies, and New York State Police will vigorously enforce laws related to driving while impaired. They will work together to reduce the number of impaired driving injuries and deaths, with special emphasis on driving while impaired by either alcohol or drugs.

The state crackdown program is funded by a 2016-2017 grant from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, and is part of a national crackdown effort.

Chautauqua County’s local STOP-DWI Program is also funded by drinking and driving fines collected from convicted drunk drivers.

Sheriff deputies say 53 year-old Hipolito Pacheco was driving along Swede Rd. just after 9:30 Monday night and was involved in an accident.

As a result of the investigation, Pacheco was arrested and charged with Felony DWI due to having a Previous Conviction Within ten Years. Pacheco was also charged with Felony Aggravated Unlicensed Operation and several other charges. He will answer to the charges in Harmony Court.

Jude Gagliano

ELLERY – The Lakewood man involved in a fatal motor vehicle crash earlier this month has been charged with vehicular manslaughter.

The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s office says the Town of Ellery court issued an arrest warrant Monday for 29 year-old Jude Gagliano, as a result of an investigation that revealed he had allegedly been drinking the night of the crash.

On Friday, Sept. 2 just after 9 p.m., a vehicle driven by Gagliano struck a second vehicle driven by 22 year-old Charles Clutter of Stockton. The crash took place at the intersection of Sinclair Drive and Rt. 380. Clutter died as a result of the incident.

Gagliano faces charges of 2^nd degree Vehicular Manslaughter, Driving While Intoxicated, and Failing to stop at a Stop Sign.  He was arraigned in the Town of Ellery Court and sent to the County Jail without bail.