COPAKE — A 36-year-old Canaan woman has been indicted on multiple felony charges in connection with an August dirt bike crash that left the victim with life-threatening injuries.
Nicole L. Cooper was arrested Oct. 3 following her indictment by a Columbia County Grand Jury.
The incident occurred Aug. 16 at approximately 12:27 a.m. when New York State Police Livingston barracks were dispatched to the area of County Route 7 and Birch Hill Road for a report of a dirt bike accident with injuries.
Troopers found the dirt bike operator lying unconscious in the roadway.
The victim was transported by emergency medical personnel to Albany Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.
Witnesses traveling with the victim reported observing a gray Volkswagen operating erratically in the vicinity of the crash.
During the investigation, troopers and members of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation were dispatched to a private residence on Livingston Road in Taghkanic after a call was made on behalf of Cooper reporting an alleged assault.
Investigation revealed that Cooper had been involved in the crash on County Route 7.
She fled the accident scene on foot, stole a pickup truck, and drove it to the Livingston Road residence.
Cooper was later transported to Albany Medical Center for treatment of injuries sustained in the accident.
A blood sample obtained from Cooper showed a blood alcohol content of 0.15% several hours after the crash.
Cooper was charged with assault in the second degree, reckless endangerment in the first degree, vehicular assault in the second degree, grand larceny in the fourth degree, criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree, DWI, operating a motor vehicle with .08 of 1% alcohol or more in blood, operating a motor vehicle impaired by drugs, reckless driving and multiple vehicle and traffic law violations.
Cooper was remanded to the Columbia County Jail and is scheduled to be arraigned in Columbia County Court on Monday, Oct. 6.
