COP, COURTS AND FIRE CALLS Driver arraigned in serious injury crash

BALLSTON SPA — A Northumberland man was arraigned last week on a several-count indictment stemming from a crash in September during Americade weekend, prosecutors said Friday.

The defendant, 51, is accused of crashing into a motorcyclist and nearly hitting two others while driving drunk, and then fleeing and trying to hide his car rather than helping the rider.

He was arraigned on the felony charges of aggravated vehicle assault, leaving the scene of a crash involving serious physical injury, first-degree vehicular assault, second-degree assault and tampering with physical evidence, along with three counts of reckless endangerment, driving while intoxicated and reckless driving, which are misdemeanors. He was sent to the county jail.Bail was not set. Another court appearance is scheduled for March.

He was speeding, failed to stop at a stop sign, lost control of his vehicle and crossed the center line at Route 32 and Rugg Road in Northumberland on Sept. 24, District Attorney Karen Heggen's office said. The rider was knocked off his bike and suffered serious injuries to his torso and lower extremities, officials said, and was airlifted to a hospital.

The driver sped away and hid his car behind an abandoned farmhouse several miles away, prosecutors said. He was arrested by deputies in a remote area by Goff Road in Northumberland.