New York Injury Lawyers Blog

Troopers charged three New York motorists with driving while intoxicated (DWI) recently in separate investigations in Port Chester, Croton-on-Hudson and Southeast, state police said today.

Stephanie G. Madeira, 24, of Danbury, Conn., was charged with misdemeanor driving while intoxicated around 1:30 a.m. today on Interstate 84 in Southeast, police said.
Lisa J. Yellen, 51, of Cortlandt was charged with misdemeanor driving while intoxicated around 1:15 a.m. today on Route 9 in Croton-on-Hudson after a trooper stopped her for failure to use a designated lane, an infraction.

Rachel C. Shufelt, 25, of Fairfield, Conn., was charged with driving while intoxicated, aggravated driving while intoxicated, misdemeanors, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to obey a police officer and speeding, infractions, around 8 p.m. Sunday on Interstate 95 in Port Chester.

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Troopers charge 3 with DWI in Port Chester, Croton-on-Hudson, Southeast The Journal News, Terence Corcoran, November 19, 2010

The New York State Thruway Authority and the New York State Police today began the 14-day "Buckle Up New York" initiative, a campaign the agencies plan to continue through Nov. 28. As often discussed on the New York Injury Lawyers Blog, the failure of drivers and passengers to buckle their seat belts often results in serious injuries if involved in a motor vehicle accident.

During the two-week period, drivers across the 570 miles of the New York State Thruway should expect a visible police presence as troopers target drivers failing to adhere to the state's seat belt law.

Those drivers and front-seat passengers over the age of 16 caught without a seat belt will likely receive a $50 fine. Those who fail to properly secure their children can expect a fine up to $100 along with three points on their drivers license.

New York State Law requires all front-seat passengers to wear a seat belt regardless of age. All passengers under the age of 16 must wear a seat belt even when traveling in the back seat. Children ages 6 and under must be properly secured in either a federally-approved child safety seat or a booster seat with a lap/shoulder safety belt, depending upon the child's particular age and size. Children in this age group who are taller than 4 feet 9 inches are exempt from the safety seat requirement.

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"Buckle Up New York" Campaign Begins, The Journal News, James O'Rourke, November 15, 2010

A 26-year-old man working at the construction site for the Ramapo baseball stadium was injured Wednesday when the construction vehicle he was driving tipped over and ejected him from the driver's seat.

Joseph Delaney of Middletown, N.Y. was carrying a load of steel rods with the forklift-type vehicle just before noon Wednesday when the accident occurred, according to Ramapo police. Spring Hill Ambulance Corps took the construction worker to Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern.

Officials on Wednesday afternoon said Delaney's injuries were confined mainly to the head, shoulder, femur and hip areas and described them as serious, but non-life-threatening. Ramapo police notified the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which began its own investigation into the incident.

Delaney is employed with Nikko Construction Corporation in Valley Cottage. Rich Straniere, vice president at Nikko, said the construction vehicle was thrown off balance by a tire that had sunk several inches into the muddy ground. He said Nikko's equipment had been inspected Wednesday and no defects were found. The company was cooperating with OSHA's investigation.

About 5 p.m., Straniere said he had just come from visiting Delaney. "He's doing fine," Straniere said. "He's bruised up, he's nervous, but there were no breaks." Straniere anticipated that Delaney would be released from Good Samaritan later Wednesday night.

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Worker seriously injured at Ramapo baseball stadium construction site

The Journal News, James O'Rourke, November 18, 2010

A drunk driver going the wrong way on a Long Island parkway reportedly hit a car being driven by an off-duty New York City police officer, killing him.

The 35-year-old officer, Andre Menzies, was going east on the Northern State Parkway shortly after midnight when his car was struck. He died at the scene. The driver of the van that hit him, Michael Bowen, suffered minor injuries. He was arrested at the scene on charges of driving while intoxicated and reckless driving.

Bowen was ordered held on $350,000 cash bail at his arraignment, according to a spokeswoman for the Suffolk County district attorney. He was represented by an attorney from Legal Aid. Menzies had worked for the New York Police Department for nine years and is survived by a wife and two small children, ages 9 and 7.

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Off-duty NYC police officer killed in LI car crash The Journal News (AP) November 15, 2010

On October 30, 2010, a 23-year-old Westchester County, NY man was one of two people killed by an alleged drunk driver in Tampa, Fla. Douglas Kozar was reportedly crossing the Harbor Island Bridge with two co-workers around 2 a.m. when Matthew Moye, a 34-year-old dentist, struck them with his 2011 Cadillac.

Moye has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide, two counts of driving under the influence manslaughter and DUI with injury.

Family members and close friends were shaken by Mr. Kozar's death. Kozar's father, Russell, explained, "We are just devastated. This is a loss we will never get over."

Kozar's wake will be at the Whalen & Ball Funeral Home in Yonkers on Wednesday from 2 to 9 p.m. His funeral will be held at St. Matthew's Catholic Church in Hastings-on-Hudson on Thursday at 10 a.m. and he will be buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Hastings-on-Hudson.

The family has asked that donations be made to Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

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Cortlandt man, 23, killed by alleged drunken driver in Fla., Journal News, Danielle DeSouza, November 1, 2010.