Tuesday, January 27, 2009

DUI Medic Has License, Membership Suspended


A MEMBER OF THE SLEEPY HOLLOW (New York) Ambulance Corps. who crashed an emergency car while driving drunk last week appeared in court yesterday. The judge suspended his driver’s license until his scheduled court date of February 9 when he’ll be tried for driving while intoxicated, unauthorized use of a vehicle and criminal mischief, misdemeanors; and damage to village property.
Arron Rodriquez, 24, began his odyssey last Tuesday, Jan. 20, when he was hanging out in the squad headquarters while drinking. In the early morning hours he took the “fly car” - a vehicle stocked with emergency medical equipment and supplies - without permission and started driving down the road. Within a few minutes he crashed the car into a tree, then managed to drive the wrecked car back to the rescue squad building where he parked it and then left without telling anybody. The right front of the car was demolished and both front tires were flattened.

When somebody at the station called the police to report it, they got in touch with Rodriquez and administerd a breath test that showed a 0.19 level. He was then charged.
The Journal-News reports:
Mayor Phil Zegarelli, who has asked for a full investigation by the police chief, is questioning why it happened, wants the screening process for potential members re-examined and wants strict rules against having access to official cars after consuming alcohol.
The incident has also sparked a dispute between the mayor and the head of the ambulance corps, Capt. James Hayes. On Thursday, when Hayes denied a television news cameraman access to the crashed vehicle, the mayor had the head of the Public Works Department let that person inside.
Hayes was videotaped cursing at the mayor and announcing he quit. He later confronted the mayor at Village Hall and did the same, Zegarelli said. The mayor said he accepted the resignation, then was later told by Hayes that he didn’t quit.
The Lower Hudson Journal-News has this latest report HERE.

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