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Two Hospitalized After Alcohol-Related Crash in Putnam Valley
Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports that two Putnam Valley residents were injured in a one-car crash in that Town on December 3, 2005. The driver of the car, fortyyear oldAntonio Perreira and his passenger, Ms. Jennifer McEniry, aged 29, were hospitalized following the 10:40 pm accident on Oscawana Lake Road.
Sheriff’s deputies investigated the crash and subsequently charged Mr. Perreira with Driving While Intoxicated (“DWI”). Deputies cited Mr. Perreira’s intoxication and his driving too fast as apparent factors in the crash.
A preliminary investigation indicates that Mr. Perreira was driving a 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse along Oscawana Lake Road while Ms. McEniry was riding in the front passenger seat of the car. The car failed to negotiate a curve and went out of control, striking a tree just off the shoulder of the roadway. The impact of the crash pinned both Mr. Perreira and Ms. McEniry inside the vehicle. Deputy Sheriffs Michael Szabo and Jesse Wollman investigated the crash. Emergency personnel from the Putnam Valley Ambulance Corps and Fire Department and an ALS paramedic unit aided the trapped motorists and extracted them from the wrecked vehicle.
Ms. McEniry sustained a serious injury to her leg and was transported via STAT-Flight helicopter to Westchester Medical Center. Mr. Perreira was transported by ambulance to the Center for treatment of an arm injury.
Deputies later arrested Mr. Perreira at the hospital on the DWI charge; they also cited him for driving at an unreasonable speed and for failing to stay in the proper lane. The DWI offense is a misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine, and the other charges are traffic infractions, which are punishable by fines. Mr. Perreira is scheduled to appear in the Town of Putnam Valley Justice Court on December 15‘1’ to answer the charges.
The accident remains under investigation.
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