NEW HARTFORD, NY — A 35-year-old man faces felony drug-impaired driving charges after nearly colliding with a police vehicle on State Route 840 this morning.
New Hartford Police responded to a one-car collision in the eastbound lane of State Route 840 at approximately 8 a.m.
Police determined the driver lost control and struck a guiderail, causing significant damage to the vehicle.
While officers investigated the initial crash, one officer was conducting traffic control west of the scene and diverting traffic away from the collision area.
The officer noticed a pickup truck traveling eastbound that appeared to be failing to move over and away from the lane closure.
The truck continued toward the officer, who took evasive action to move his police SUV forward and out of the truck’s path.
At the last moment, the truck abruptly changed lanes to avoid the police SUV.
The officer immediately conducted a traffic stop of the truck.
The driver was identified as Richard Marcano, of Sauquoit.
Marcano exhibited signs of impairment during the encounter, and officers administered field sobriety tests, including a drug recognition evaluation.
Marcano was arrested and charged with felony driving while ability impaired by drugs due to a previous conviction within 10 years.
He was also charged with failure to maintain lane, failure to yield the right of way to an emergency vehicle, failure to use a turn signal and operating a motor vehicle without proof of insurance.
Marcano was processed and released on uniform traffic tickets and will answer the charges in Town of New Hartford Court at a later date.
The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the drug recognition evaluation.
