Troopers say: Man with narcotics crashed fatally after police pursuit ended

Friday, February 3, 2023 - 16:51

KNOX — On Wednesday, a Cohoes man crashed in Knox, and later died of severe injuries, after a brief police chase elsewhere had ended.
Jason S. Benn, 49, was pronounced dead at Albany Medical Center.

State Police, in a press release on Thursday, said event unfolded this way:

New Scotland State Police saw a vehicle driving erratically at about 1:35 a.m. on Washington Avenue Extension in Albany; the vehicle matched the description of a suspect vehicle pursued earlier in Colonie so troopers tried to stop the vehicle but Benn did not comply, and a chase ensued.

“During the pursuit, Benn struck multiple parked vehicles,” the release said, “and at 1:44 a.m. the pursuit was terminated due to public safety concerns.”

Soon after the chase ended, troopers found Benn and the crashed vehicle in the area of the Knox-Gallupville Road.

“The preliminary investigation has determined  Benn did not have permission to operate the vehicle and was in possession of narcotics,” the release said. The investigation is ongoing.

— Melissa Hale-Spencer

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