BARKER, NY — A 19-year-old man was arrested on drunken driving and fleeing charges early Nov. 1 after a traffic stop on Interstate 81.
Jason Cougar Tran, of Cortland, was charged with driving while intoxicated and unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle in the third degree, both misdemeanors.
New York State Police at Binghamton said troopers monitoring traffic observed a Ford Escape traveling northbound at a high rate of speed and making unsafe lane changes at approximately 2:52 a.m.
Troopers attempted to make a traffic stop but the vehicle failed to comply and accelerated, police said.
The operator of the vehicle ultimately stopped.
Troopers identified Tran, who was operating the vehicle on a learner’s permit.
Troopers observed characteristics associated with impairment and asked Tran to perform standardized field sobriety tests, which confirmed impairment, police said.
Tran was arrested and transported to State Police Whitney Point where his reportable blood alcohol content was .14 percent.
He was processed and issued appearance tickets to Barker Town Court on Dec. 16.
Three passengers in the vehicle who were intoxicated were not charged and turned over to a sober third party.
