Kingston man charged in Jan. 2 hit-and-run
Brysen R. Tota faces three felony counts for the incident that seriously injured 62-yearold George Barley.
A Kingston man is facing felony charges in connection with a Jan. 2 hit-and-run on Upper Whitfield Road in Accord that left a man with serious injuries, state police said Wednesday.
Brysen R. Tota, 24, was arrested Tuesday and charged with felony assault, as well as the felonies of leaving the scene of an accident involving serious injury and tampering with physical evidence, plus the misdemeanor of aggravated unlicensed driving, police said.
Tota is accused by police of striking George Barley while driving a 2010 Audi A4 and then fleeing.
Tota was arraigned in Rochester Town Court and sent to the Ulster County Jail in lieu of $7,500 bail. He is due back in court on Jan. 15.
Troopers found Barley, 62, of Accord, about 8 feet off the west shoulder of the road, unconscious but breathing. They said he was suffering from apparent head and leg injuries and was flown by helicopter to Westchester Medical Center.
A GoFundMe page created on behalf of Barley and his wife said Barley was in “an induced coma with significant head and body injuries.” A Jan. 11 post on the page said Barley had “started showing response by tapping his right foot” in response to his wife’s voice. The response was referred to as “an incredible positive achievement.”
After the incident, state police said their initial investigation found Barley and his wife were out for a walk when a gray sedan, driving south at a high rate of speed, struck him and kept going.