A pickup truck crashed into the Bethlehem Central High School Thursday night in what police say was a drunken driving incident.
Police arrested William Clifton VanHoesen, 36, of 2018 Tarrytown Road, Feura Bush, and charged him with felony DWI, speeding, moving from lane unsafely, not wearing his seat belt and leaving the scene of an accident.
Police said at about 10 p.m. VanHoesen drove his 2005 Chevrolet Silverado pickup over two curbs and two grassy sections of lawn before striking a pillar near the school’s main entrance. When police arrived he had fled the scene and the front door to the school was unlocked, leaving police to believe he might be inside. State Police were contacted and brought in K9s for a search.
During the search VanHoesen was located at the district’s bus garage on Van Dyke Road and arrested, police said. He allegedly smelled of alcohol and had sustained injuries, so EMS was called and transported him to Albany Medical Center. A field breathalyzer allegedly tested positive for alcohol, but VanHoesen would not submit to having his blood drawn at the hospital, police said.
A BC spokesperson said the two curbs will have to be repaired and the district will press charges on VanHoesen. The pillar was not damaged and the main entrance was in use the next day.
The school was empty at the time of the crash but earlier in the evening had hosted an elementary music concert.`