Bethlehem police have arrested a man they say plowed into two vehicles early this morning as he fled the scene of a burglary, hospitalizing himself and another driver.
Anthony R. Young, 38, of McClellan Street in Schenectady, is facing a number of charges. He’s in Albany Medical Center being treated for a head injury and police said his condition is serious enough he’s expected to be there for several days.
Police allege Young was in the process of burglarizing a home on Mason Road in Delmar when the homeowner returned at 6:28 this morning and called 911. He fled the scene and responding patrol cars in a 2003 Hyundai, reaching speeds estimated at up to 80 mph down Kenwood Avenue, police said.
Young struck a vehicle near Delmar Place, and then came to a stop at the Four Corners when he hit another vehicle, police said. The driver of that vehicle was also transported to Albany Medical Center to be treated for injures to his hip and shoulder area.
The Four Corners was closed for some time, delaying morning commutes.
Luckily it was at that time of the morning, Bethlehem police Lt. Thomas Heffernan said. `A half hour from then you start getting people walking to the high school, people out jogging…as bad as the accident was, we’re lucky it wasn’t worse.`
Young was charged with two felonies: burglary in the second degree and reckless endangerment in the first degree, as well as criminal mischief in the fourth degree, petit larceny, unlawfully fleeing a police officer in the third degree, DWI and numerous traffic violations.
Heffernan said police pulled Young from the vehicle after the collission and he exhibited signs of intoxication, including having the odor of alcohol on him. A beer can was laying outside of his crumpled car at the scene.
Heffernan said more charges may follow as the police continue an investigation. A complete search of the car has not been conducted for stolen property, he said.
`It’s hard to tell with the damage to the vehicle,` Heffernan said. `We’re not able to get into the vehicle because all the doors are jammed, so we’ve secured it.`
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Photo by Tom Heffernan Sr.
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