Updated Story: DEC Issues Tickets To DWI Crash Suspect

Another Truck in a River - Lewis County

On the evening of May 10, ECO Fay Fuerch was contacted by the Lewis County Sheriff's Office for assistance with a vehicle in the Black River.

State Police were at the scene of an accident in which a vehicle struck a tree, traveled down an embankment, and slipped into the river. The owner escaped through a window just before the vehicle sank. He was subsequently arrested for driving while intoxicated. Due to high water levels and unsafe conditions, ECO Fuerch delayed the recovery of the vehicle until water conditions improved for divers to work safely. ECO Fuerch coordinated with a local dive team and towing company to recover the vehicle and advised the owner of the plan.

The owner decided to attempt to recover the vehicle with his friends' assistance. On the evening of May 14, ECO Fuerch was contacted by the Lewis County Sheriff's Office and was advised that the owner was on scene attempting to recover the vehicle. The operator had asked a nearby farmer to use his tractor to assist with the removal, but the farmer declined and called the Sheriff. Upon ECO Fuerch's arrival, she found the vehicle pulled halfway up the embankment, but the owner had left the scene.

A towing company was contacted to finish the removal of the vehicle and the owner was charged with disposing of a substance injurious to fish and wildlife in water and disturbing the bed and banks of a protected stream. The tickets are returnable to the Town of Lowville Court on June 15. More details available here.

*Photo obtained from NYS DEC website.