A Chittenango man was charged with driving while intoxicated after he allegedly caused a three-car crash in the Town of Sullivan last week.
According to state police, at approximately 5:20 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 20, Madison County 911 dispatched Trooper Valerie Sgarlata to investigate a three-car personal injury accident on State Route 5 at Whisper Ridge Road. The accident investigation revealed that a 2010 Ford Focus operated by Stephanie R. Burrows, 29, of Chittenango, was stopped on Route 5 facing east awaiting another vehicle in front of it to make a left turn with an eastbound 2014 Dodge pickup operated by Douglas A. Loucks, 76, of Canastota stopped directly behind the Burrows vehicle.
A 1988 Dodge pickup operated by Michael L. Purcell, 47, was eastbound on Route 5 and failed to observe the other eastbound vehicles had stopped. The Purcell vehicle rear-ended the Loucks vehicle, forcing it into the rear of the Burrows vehicle. Loucks and his passenger Jeanette Loucks, 70, complained of back pain and neck pain respectively. Purcell and Burrows reported no injuries.
While Trooper Sgarlata interviewed Purcell, she observed an open beer in Purcell’s vehicle and a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath. Purcell was very belligerent with the first responders and yelling at the other people involved in the accident, according to police. Purcell refused to perform any sobriety testing and was taken into custody for DWI.
A search of Purcell revealed he possessed a smoking pipe and baggie containing a quantity of marijuana on his person. While being placed into a patrol vehicle, Purcell began to resist and tried to pull away from law enforcement officers. Purcell was transported to the Sullivan state police barracks for processing, where he refused to allow himself to be fingerprinted.
Purcell was arraigned in Chittenango Village court on the charges of DWI, resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration in the second degree, unlawful possession of marijuana and numerous traffic charges. He was remanded to the Madison County Jail in lieu of $2,000 cash or $4,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in the Town of Sullivan court on Jan. 3, 2017.
