VIETNAM MEMORIAL DESTROYED IN CRASH
Police: Woman ticketed, cause of crash still unknown
TROY >> A city woman was ticketed after crashing Sunday morning into a memorial just dedicated just last year to a city native who died in the Vietnam war.
The incident occurred on Sunday morning near the bridge at Spring Avenue and Hill Street in Troy.
City police spokesman Capt. Daniel DeWolf said Neressa Harden, 36, failed to stop at the intersection of Spring Avenue and Ida and Hill streets, proceeding through the intersection and crashing into a memorial to Robert Felter, a U.S. Marine who was killed in action Dec. 11, 1965.
Harden was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation and was also ticketed for fail-
ing to stop at a stop sign.
DeWolf said alcohol or drugs did not appear to play a role in the accident, and no injuries were reported, but the memorial, which consisted of a flagpole and a small plaque, was destroyed.
DeWolf said police are still unsure of what caused the crash, but fire officials at the scene said Harden claimed her brakes failed, though a subsequent check by firefighters as they removed the Chevrolet Trailblazer found them to be operational.
The memorial was unveiled on Veteran’s Day last year, at the same time as the rebuilt bridge over the Poestenkill was dedicated to Felter, who died during the second day of a two-day battle with North Vietnamese soldier in the Quang Nam province. The bridge is located just down the street from where Felter grew up.