BETHLEHEM—On Tuesday, March 13, at 5:33 p.m., the Bethlehem Police Department responded to a report of a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Elm Avenue and Feura Bush Road. Upon arrival, officers reportedly determined that a 2011 Volkswagen Routan had rear-ended a 2011 Toyota XB at the intersection, and that the operator of the Volkswagen was displaying signs of intoxication.
After standard field sobriety tests were administered, the operator of the Volkswagen, Denise M. Ikasalo, 40, of Slingerlands, was arrested for a DWI. It was also reportedly determined that there were two passengers in Ikasalo’s vehicle at the time of the crash who were under the age of fifteen.
Ikasalo was returned to the Bethlehem Police Department and administered a chemical test, after which she was charged with two felony counts of aggravated DWI with a child in the vehicle (Leandra’s Law), two misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child, misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest, DWI, driving with a blood alcohol content greater than .08 percent, aggravated DWI, for having a blood alcohol content greater than .18 percent, and traffic violations of following too closely, and refusing to submit to a pre-screening device.
The driver of the Toyota was treated for minor injuries at the scene.
Ikasalo was arraigned in the Town of Bethlehem Court and released on $15,000 bail. She is scheduled to return to Bethlehem Court on Tuesday, April 3.
