Troy man admits to vehicular assault
ALBANY >> A Troy man faces prison time after pleading guilty to a series of car crashes during a police chase in Latham that injured four people.
Dertwan Dantzler, 22, pleaded guilty Monday to aggravated vehicular assault, a class C felony, and second-degree assault, a class D felony. He faces three to nine years in state prison when he’s sentenced Sept. 19.
On May 4, 2015, state police began pursuing Dertwan J. Dantzler, 21, on Interstate 787 after he was observed driving south in a 2015 Honda at a high rate of speed. The pursuit continued onto Interstate 90 westbound and then north on Route 9, according to state police, but the pursuing trooper called off the chase after seeing Dantzler sideswipe another northbound vehicle just after 6:40 p.m.
Shortly after that crash, Dantzler was involved in a four-car crash on Route 9 at the entrance to Newton Plaza that left him and two other occupants of his car with serious injuries. State police said Dantzler sustained a collapsed lung, while Amir F. Covington, 22, also of Troy, suffered a fractured back and Marquis T. Thompson, 18, of
Albany, sustained a fractured pelvis, collapsed lung and bruised heart. All three men were taken to Albany Medical Center.
The drivers of two of the other vehicles sustained minor injuries, while the other driver was taken to Samaritan Hospital in Troy after complaining of pain. Troopers said they believe Dantzler may have been under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Assistant District Attorney Michael Shanley of Albany County’s Vehicular Crimes Unit is handling the prosecution of this case.