Another traffic death – Bicyclist hit on Central Ave
COLONIE – The Colonie Police Department Traffic Division is investigating a crash involving
the driver of a 2023 Toyota pickup truck who struck a bicyclist on Central Avenue in the area of Elmwood Street in Colonie at 11:35 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 27. This is the fourth death in 15 days on Colonie highways and, in response, Colonie Town Supervisor Peter Crummey has asked for a review of the State roads where the accidents happened.
In the most recent case, both the pickup and the bicyclist, Joseph Crandall, 62, of Colonie, were traveling eastbound on Central Avenue in the curb lane when the truck hit the rear of the bicycle which ejected Crandall.
The driver immediately stopped and called 9-1-1. Passers-by stopped and attempted to render aid to Crandall but he succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Impairment is not a factor in the crash on the part of the driver. The bicyclist was wearing reflective clothing and was properly using the lane but did not have a bicycle helmet on.
Stanford Heights Fire Department responded and aided the police in blocking the roadway. One westbound lane of Central Avenue was briefly closed. Eastbound Central was completely closed at Lansing Road North from the time of the crash until approximately 12:15 p.m. when one lane eastbound was reopened. The curb lane remained closed until 1:25 p.m. when police cleared the scene.
“These are State highways and we do not have control over those roadways,” Crummey said.
Crummey penned a letter on November 7 asking DOT Regional Director Michael Arthur to consider conducting an in-depth review of the areas and consider enhanced pedestrian and bicyclist safety features along Central Avenue, Route 5, and Troy Schenectady Road, Route 2.
“There may be safety methods employed on State roads in other parts of New York State that could be considered here,” He wrote.
Anyone who may have witnessed or has video footage of the crash, is asked to contact investigators at 518 782-2620.
New Jersey man convicted in fatal 2022 Northway DWI crash
COLONIE – A 24-year-old New Jersey man will spend years behind bars in causing the death of 22-year-old Katie Fisher of Ballston Spa.
Vasu Laroiya of Iselin, NJ, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated vehicular homicide before the judge William Little in Albany County Court on Tuesday, Nov. 28.
According to the Albany County District Attorney’s Office, as a part of his plea, Laroiya admitted that on May 28, 2022, on the Northway in Colonie, he drove recklessly at speeds reaching 156 miles per hour while intoxicated and using his cell phone to make a Snapchat video, when he drove into the back of a vehicle being driven by Katie Fisher, 22, of Ballston Spa, causing her death.
Laroiya also admitted having a prior alcohol related conviction from New Jersey in 2019.
The indictment, handed up on July 6, 2022, included charges of Murder the Second Degree, Manslaughter in the Second Degree, Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, Driving While
Intoxicated, and Reckless Driving.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 26, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. The defendant faces 8 1/3 to 25 years in State Prison. Additionally, Laroiya will be subject to license revocation, and the installation of an ignition interlock device.
Larioya was originally charged by State Police with aggravated vehicular assault, felony DWI and assault, all felonies and reckless driving, a misdemeanor, on the day of the crash. Vehicular homicide and manslaughter were added on Friday, June 3, 2022.
Laroiya crashed his 2021 Tesla Model Y northbound on I-87 at a high rate of speed into a 2018 Honda Civic driven by Fisher at approximately 9:53 p.m. The Honda subsequently hit a guardrail and caught fire.
Fisher was transported to the Albany Medical Center Hospital and later died from her injuries.
At that time he was arraigned in Colonie Town Court and sent to the Albany County Jail and held without bail.
Criminal contempt and aggravated family offense
COLONIE – A local man was taken into custody by Colonie police on Thursday, Nov. 16 after a domestic incident at his home a day earlier.
According to reports, Joshua Lewis, 33, of Colonie, was taken into custody at the Albany County Probation office and charged with criminal contempt – prior conviction and aggravated family offense, both felonies.
He was processed and arraigned by Colonie Town Judge Norman Massry.
Warrant
COLONIE – A Middleburgh man was arrested on Thursday, Nov. 16 after a traffic stop by Colonie police on Central Avenue near the Niskayuna town line.
According to reports, officers found that Richard Christian, 48, had an outstanding warrant from State Police. He was processed and transported to meet troopers.
Two warrants again and more stolen property
COLONIE – On Friday, Nov. 17 Colonie police arrested a homeless man with property stolen from Kohls on Central Avenue earlier in the day and also found he had two outstanding warrants.
According to reports, Grey Gabino, 47, was arrested in Bethlehem for allegedly stealing six bags of shrimp and two bags of crab legs in March 2020 and arrested in October 2022 for not showing up to court was arrested again on Friday, Oct. 20 an outstanding bench warrant for not showing up again.
Gabino was arrested in Guilderland and transported to Bethlehem on the warrant. Gabino was also arrested in Albany on Sunday, Oct. 15 for two outstanding warrants in Colonie, then was released to East Greenbush for a warrant in that town.
Gabino was released in that case and was arrested in the most recent case in Guilderland and Bethlehem.
He was arraigned by Bethlehem Town Judge Andrew Kirby and released to the supervision of probation. He was due back in Bethlehem Town Court on November 8.
The current warrants were issued when he didn’t show up for November 6 court appearances in Colonie. He was arraigned by Colonie Judge Norman Massry on the new charge and the warrants.
Two warrants
LATHAM – Colonie police responded to a larceny in progress at Walmart on Friday, Nov. 17 and found that a Menands woman was wanted in connection with two other incidents and did not show up for court for either.
According to reports, Nakeia Fisher, 28, did not show up for court in January 2022 after being issued an appearance ticket for criminal impersonation and larceny.
She was arraigned by Colonie Judge Norman Massry.
Domestic and two warrants
COLONIE – On Friday, Nov. 17 at 11:21 p.m., Colonie police responded to a home in the Village of Colonie for a domestic incident and found that one of the residents had two open warrants from Colonie Town Court.
According to reports, officers found that Robert Carson, 49, had two outstanding warrants for failing to appear in 2019. When contacted by police, Colonie Judge Norman Massry told police to release Carson on an appearance ticket for November 27.
Two warrants and drugs
COLONIE – Colonie police responded to the Hannaford Plaza on Wolf Road on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 11:13 p.m. to check a subject.
When police arrived they found that the person in question, Naim Cook, 43, who is homeless, had two outstanding warrants from the town from January. Cood was also in possession of a quantity of heroin. He was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor, and the two warrants, then sent to the Albany County Jail as a pre-arraignment detainee. He was arraigned the next morning.
Felony DWI – Leandra’s Law
COLONIE – On Sunday, Nov. 19 at 12:56 p.m., Colonie police responded to a property damage car accident at Afrims on Watervliet Shaker Road. According to reports when officers arrived the driver, Amy Harbison, 48, of Guilderland, had her son, who was under the age of 16 in the vehicle.
Officers observed Harbison to have slurred speech, poor motor coordination and had an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from her breath. She was given and failed field sobriety tests and tested positive for breath alcohol on a pre-screening device.
At the police station, Harbison provided a breath sample that returned a .21 percent BAC. She was charged with felony DWI under Leandra’s law and aggravated DWI and endangering the welfare of a child, both misdemeanors.
She was released with an appearance ticket for Colonie Town Court on December 4.
DWI
COLONIE – Colonie police responded to a residence on Sunday, Nov. 19 for an emotionally distressed person who had been consuming alcohol, then drove away from the home. When police interviewed the caller, the 56-year-old woman drove back to the residence.
According to reports, police observed the woman to have a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from her breath.
The woman said she had consumed an alcoholic beverage shortly before driving. She was given and failed field sobriety tests, tested positive for breath alcohol on a pre-screening device and taken into custody.
At the police station, the woman provided a breath sample that returned a .15 percent BAC.
She was charged with DWI. She was released with an appearance ticket for December 4 at Colonie Town Court.
Felony assault
COLONIE – Schenectady police turned over a 29-year-old Schenectady man to Colonie police on Sunday, Nov. 19 for an outstanding warrant for assaulting a police officer in August.
Deontre Cummings was charged with assault with intent to cause injury to an officer, a felony, for an incident that took place near the Midway Fire Department.
He was processed and sent to the Albany County jail as a pre-arraignment detainee to be arraigned the next morning.
Warrant
COLONIE – State Police brought a Prattsville woman to Colonie on Monday, Nov. 20 at 12:44 a.m.for an open warrant because she did not show up for court in October 2022.
Gina Bleau, 48, was processed and then sent to the Albany County jail as a pre-arraignment detainee. She was scheduled to be arraigned the next morning.
Warrant
COLONIE – A 39-year-old Latham man was transported from the Rensselaer County jail on Monday, Nov. 20 for an outstanding warrant from Colonie Town Court.
According to reports, Joshua Gray did not appear in court in September. He was arraigned by Colonie Town Judge David Green.
Warrant
COLONIE – East Greenbush police dropped off a Colonie man at the police station on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 7:15 p.m. because he had an outstanding warrant from the town.
Anthony Traficante, 53, did not show up for a June 2022 court date. He was arrested, processed and arraigned.
Burglary and larceny at Macy’s
COLONIE – Colonie police responded to Macy’s at Colonie Center on Monday, Nov. 20 and arrested Daryus Smith, 33, of Albany for an incident at the store.
He was charged with burglary, a felony, and petit larceny, a misdemeanor. Smith was arraigned by Colonie Town Judge Andrew Sommers.
Assault, guns at Budget Motel
COLONIE – Colonie police responded to a domestic dispute at the Budget Motel on Central Avenue on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 11:42 p.m. and arrested a Colonie man on assault and weapons charges.
According to reports, Samquise Adams, 25, was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm and conspiracy-firearms, all felonies, and assault with intent to cause physical injury, a misdemeanor.
He was arraigned by Colonie Judge David Green that night.