BERNE, NY — State Police have filed additional charges against a man accused of intentionally ramming a pickup truck with a utility terrain vehicle before crashing in August.
Thomas Murphy III, 40, of Berne, was charged Oct. 18 with Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated and Driving While Ability Impaired by the Combined Influence of Drugs or of Alcohol and Any Drug or Drugs.
A continued investigation determined Murphy had a blood alcohol content of 0.26% and Benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite, was present in his blood at the time of the crash, according to State Police.
Murphy was originally arrested Aug. 22 following an incident on Aug. 16.
Troopers responded to Bradt Hollow Road at about 9:09 p.m. Aug. 16 for a report of a side-by-side UTV crash involving a pickup truck.
The investigation determined Murphy was operating the UTV recklessly while following multiple vehicles traveling southbound on Bradt Hollow Road.
Murphy allegedly intentionally struck a pickup truck multiple times with the UTV, causing more than $10,000 worth of damage before losing control of the UTV and crashing off the roadway.
Murphy sustained serious injuries in the crash and was transported to Albany Medical Center for treatment.
He was originally charged with two counts of Reckless Endangerment in the second degree, Criminal Mischief in the second degree, Driving While Intoxicated and numerous Vehicle and Traffic Law violations.
Murphy was processed at State Police New Scotland and was issued an appearance ticket returnable to Berne Town Court on Sept. 9.
No one else was injured during the incident and Murphy is unknown to the victim, according to State Police.
