Police arrest driver who they say crashed into Delmar storefronts

The Enterprise — Melissa Hale-Spencer

Two storefronts were boarded at Delmar’s Four Corners after a Jeep Cherokee went off of Kenwood Avenue on Nov. 7 and crashed into them. The driver was arrested on Tuesday.

BETHLEHEM — On Tuesday, a Rensselaer man was arrested on charges stemming from a Nov. 7 incident in which, police say, he drove off Kenwood Avenue at Delmar’s Four Corners and crashed into a couple of storefronts.

Mark A. Boucher, 29, was charged with reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, and reckless driving — all misdemeanors. He was also charged with leaving the scene of a property-damage accident, and several other Vehicle and Traffic Law violations.

Boucher was arraigned in Bethlehem Town Court and released on his own recognizance. A return date for court was set for Dec. 15. 

At about 6:14 p.m. on Nov. 7, Bethlehem Police received calls from witnesses who saw a red Jeep Cherokee, a sport utility vehicle, strike another vehicle at the intersection of Kenwood and Delaware avenues and then the Jeep fled the scene, according to a release from the Bethlehem Police.

Police found the Jeep nearby, the release said, parked behind the Peter Harris Clothes store at 417 Kenwood Ave.; witnesses saw the driver running south by the First United Methodist Church of Delmar at 428 Kenwood Ave. Bethlehem officers checked the area along with a police dog and its handler from the Albany County Sheriff’s Office — but to no avail.

“Further investigation into the crash revealed that the Jeep did make a right turn from Delaware Avenue, onto Kenwood Avenue, when it left the roadway,” Bethlehem Police said. “It went up on the northern sidewalk of Kenwood Avenue striking several chained barriers, light posts, and side swiped two storefronts. Upon re-entering the roadway, the Jeep did strike a white pickup truck before continuing on.”

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