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PV Automobile Crash Leads to Child Endangerment Charges
A 49-year-old Putnam Valley woman has been arrested by the Putnam County Sheriffs Department on driving while ability impaired and endangering the welfare of a child charges following an investigation into a single vehicle crash on Oscawana Lake Rd. in Putnam Valley.
The Sheriff reports that on November 30, 2007 at about 10am Deputy Sheriff David Rampolla responded to a report of a single vehicle off the roadway in the entrance to the Putnam Valley Elementary School. Upon arriving at the scene the deputy found the driver and a 9-year-old passenger in the vehicle. Neither party had suffered any injuries in the crash but the driver was acting in an unusual manner for the time of day and lack of any visible injury. The child was turned over to school officials who were present at the accident scene on the school's front lawn.
Deputy Rampolla initiated an investigation which included interviewing witnesses to the vehicles operation prior to and at the time of the crash. An interview with the driver revealed that she appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance that was causing her to be unfocused and unable to follow simple requests and commands of the deputy. After failing several field sobriety examinations the driver, Doris Depole of Putnam Valley was taken into custody pending a more thorough investigation.
It was later determined that the defendant had consumed a number of prescription muscle relaxant and anti-depressant medications earlier in the morning and that their effects had caused to her impairment.
The defendant was charged with 1 count each of Driving Intoxicated and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. She was arraigned before Judge Decarlo of the Town of Putnam Valley Justice Court and released pending future court appearances. Each charge is punishable by a monetary fine and or a period of incarceration to be set by the court upon conviction.
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