Guilty Plea for Wynantskill Man Who Drove Drunk, Struck 9 Cars on New Year’s Eve

 District Attorney P. David Soares announced that SCOTT LAW, 37, of Wynantskill, pleaded guilty to (1) Count of Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Vehicle, a Class E Felony, and (1) Count of Driving While Intoxicated, a Misdemeanor, before the Honorable Stephen W. Herrick in Albany County Court this morning.

On January 1, 2015, at approximately 1:25am, LAW was operating a pick-up truck on Madison Avenue in the City of Albany and struck a taxi minivan, pushing the van in to another moving vehicle.  LAW then fled the scene of the crash and crossed the center yellow lines into oncoming traffic, striking five (5) vehicles that were parked along the side of the roadway.  LAW then swerved his truck back into westbound lanes and hit two (2) more parked vehicles.  LAW then got out of the truck and fled the scene on foot through Washington Park.  Members of the Albany Police Department were able to pursue LAW on foot and apprehend him nearby.  LAW had physical signs of intoxication, failed several field sobriety tests, and tested positive on an alco-sensor device.  At the time of the incident, LAW’s driver’s license was revoked by the Department of Motor Vehicles for previous alcohol related convictions.

LAW faces 1 to 3 years in State Prison, in addition to a concurrent 1 year incarceration term for the DWI charge, when sentenced on April 8, 2015.  

In addition to his State Prison sentence, LAW must also pay restitution to the victims, pay fines and surcharges, be subject to a driver’s license revocation for a minimum of 6 months subject to Department of Motor Vehicles guidelines, be subject to Ignition Interlock restriction for 1 year, and attend a Victim Impact Panel.

Vehicular Crimes Unit Bureau Chief Mary Tanner-Richter is prosecuting this case.