High-end joyride ends in crash, no injuries

— Photo from Craig D. Apple Facebook page
All that remains of a Lamborghini that crashed while racing through Clarksville. The driver was not injured.

ALBANY COUNTY — A group of drivers from New York City sporting luxury performance cars were having a “Fast and Furious moment,” Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said on Facebook, when one of them wound up in a ditch with their car on fire in Clarksville after failing to negotiate a sharp turn in the road on Saturday, Oct. 19. 

There were no injuries, but a Lamborghini worth more than $200,000 was utterly destroyed, Apple said. Photos from after the fire was put out show an unrecognizable vehicle frame resting on dirt and stone while an earlier photo showed the car engulfed in what looks to be several feet of flames. 

“Several tickets were issued,” Apple wrote. 

Some commenters noted that they thought they had heard or seen the cars around the Hilltowns earlier that day.

“A couple very fast cars not sure maybe same ones went down co Rte 1 in Westerlo earlier today and actually have also done it in the past,” one woman wrote. “You don’t hear them until they are upon you (thank god no one is pulling out of driveways because on hill where you can’t see them coming) also going too fast can’t see license plate.”

While many commenters expressed their disappointment in the drivers, and gratitude for first responders and the fact that no one was hurt, many others found humor in the spectacular incident. 

One user, referring to a 1970s commercial where a young boy races home through New York City when he hears his mom is cooking Prince Spaghetti, said “It was Prince Spaghetti night up on the hill!!!”

Another chimed in, “As my dad would say, zigged when they should have zagged.” 

One even said he understood the impulse to hit the gas through rural roads.

“I just hope Craig’s not behind me,” he said of the sheriff. 

More Hilltowns News

  • The $830,000 entrusted to the town of Rensselaerville two years ago has been tied up in red tape ever since, but an attorney for the town recently announced that the town has been granted a cy prés to move the funds to another trustee, which he said was the “major hurdle” in the ordeal.  

The Altamont Enterprise is focused on hyper-local, high-quality journalism. We produce free election guides, curate readers' opinion pieces, and engage with important local issues. Subscriptions open full access to our work and make it possible.