Police cars, pump struck in Greene County chase

NEW BALTIMORE — A Thruway pursuit Thursday night resulted in damaged police cars, a collision with a gasoline pump and a slew of charges against the driver who police said started it all.

At about 11:15 p.m., State Police tried to stop a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt on the state superhighway for a vehicle and traffic violation, but the driver failed to comply and a pursuit ensued, troopers said. Police used a tire deflation device near mile-marker 106, which flattened two of the car’s tires, but the driver continued north and left the

Thruway at exit 21B (Coxsackie).

When the Cobalt turned onto Route 9W, Troop F troopers and a cruiser from the Greene County sheriff ’s department joined the chase. The driver pulled into a Sunoco parking lot, striking a gas pump. As the car tried to leave the parking lot, the driver intentionally struck a trooper’s car and a sheriff ’s vehicle, at which point another trooper’s car used its front push bumper to strike the suspect vehicle, disabling it, troopers said.

The driver, age 29, of Palenville, Greene County, was taken into custody without further incident.

No injuries were reported as a result of the collisions.

Police said the driver was intoxicated but refused to give a breath sample at the State Police offices in Albany. He was charged with reckless endangerment, unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, criminal mischief, DWI and reckless endangerment of property. A passenger in the car was not charged.

The man was arraigned in Coxsackie Town Court and released on his own recognizance, due in that court again April 3. He is scheduled to appear in New Baltimore Town Court on April 11.