Police say drunk driver wreaked more havoc





GUILDERLAND — More charges have been filed against a man who, police say, crashed into a truck and a house after driving drunk.

Shaun Menzer, 18, of 1224 Union St., Schenectady, was arrested on Aug. 23, for driving while intoxicated. Guilderland Police said then that Menzer was pulled over in a parking lot at Crossgates Mall for driving erratically and, as the officer walked back to his patrol car to check Menzer’s license, Menzer sped away.

The officer called for assistance and, as Menzer sped down Western Avenue, police in two cars followed, Lieutenant Curtis Cox said earlier. Within 20 seconds, Cox said, the officers saw Menzer crash at the intersection of Gipp Road.

Menzer struck a car that was pulling out from Gipp Road, police say. He then continued driving, lost control of his vehicle, swerved off the road, and struck a parked pickup truck in a driveway at 1833 Western Ave., police say. He then struck a house, at 1835 Western Ave., and his vehicle flipped over, landing on its roof, police say.

Menzer and his 15-year-old passenger were taken to Albany Medical Center. A spokesperson for the hospital said on Aug. 24 that Menzer was in serious condition and no information on the passenger was available.

This week, Guilderland Sergeant Gary Lee told The Enterprise that Menzer is out of the hospital. Lee was unaware of the passenger’s condition, he said.

Menzer appeared in Guilderland Town Court on Sept. 1. Police then charged him additionally with first-degree reckless endangerment, a felony; fourth-degree criminal mischief, assault, and leaving the scene of a personal-injury auto accident, all misdemeanors; and failure to obey a traffic-control device, failure to yield to a right-of-way, imprudent speeding, and driving a passenger without a seat belt, all infractions.

The charge of leaving the scene of an accident was because Menzer didn’t stop after hitting the first car pulling out from Gipp Road, Cox said.

Menzer had his case adjourned until Oct. 13.

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