A Coxsackie man faces felony charges for the deaths of his two passengers in a multi-vehicle crash on the thruway, with police alleging he was intoxicated.
State Police received a report of a serious crash involving several vehicles just before midnight Friday, July 4, near mile marker 151 on I-90 westbound, which is between exits 24 and 25.
Preliminary investigation revealed Tyler S. Pascuzzi, 24, of Coxsackie, was allegedly driving a 2004 Volkswagen GLI with two passengers in the center lane at “a high rate of speed.” Police said Pascuzzi was allegedly intoxicated.
Pascuzzi then allegedly struck a 2003 Honda Civic driven by Brian T. Miller, 29, of Schenectady. Miller reportedly lost control of his car and hit the center guide rail and stopped.
Pascuzzi’s vehicle then started spinning in a westerly direction and hit an Old Dominion Freight Lines tractor-trailer. Upon impact with the trailer the Volkswagen separated into two pieces.
The two passengers of Volkswagen — Cody J. Veverka, 23, of South Cairo, and Alicia M. Tamboia, 24, of Wingdale — were ejected and pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.
Pascuzzi and Miller were transported to Albany Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. The tractor-trailer driver was not injured.
Police said there was another car striking parts of the Volkswagen, which caused damage to the car, but the driver was not injured.
Police arrested Pascuzzi on Tuesday, July 8, for the felony charges of aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter in the first degree and manslaughter in the second degree. He was also charged with DWI and reckless driving.
Pascuzzi was arraigned in Guilderland Town Court and bail was set at $250,000 bond, which he posted and was released. He will reappear in Albany County Court later this month, but a date has not been scheduled, according to police.