N.Y. Man Accused of DUI, Ignoring Police Warnings

A Long Island man is accused of driving drunk, ignoring police warnings and driving his vehicle over downed power lines on Route 412 just north of Interstate 78 in Bethlehem, allegedly endangering nearby police and firefighters.

According to court records, Anthony Czyrski, 43, of Amityville, N.Y. took a preliminary breath test during Friday’s incident that showed an alcohol level of .16 percent--twice the legal limit of .08 percent. The records listed the results of a blood alcohol test as “pending.”

A criminal complaint filed by Bethlehem police Officer Matthew Laxton provides the following details:

--Police were investigating an unrelated crash around 9:25pm at Hellertown Road (Route 412) and Crest Avenue. A telephone pole had been struck and power lines were lying in the northbound lane of Hellertown Road.

--Several officers were out of their cruisers at Hellertown and Silvex roads, closing Hellertown Road to northbound traffic. Czyrski ignored officers’ directions and cut through the parking lot of the Turkey Hill on Hellertown Road in a Suburban.

--Czyrski pulled onto northbound Hellertown Road and “accelerated into the downed power lines.” Police and firefighters were standing near the lines. They had to “rapidly move due to heavy vibrations being sent through the lines above.”

--Police eventually stopped Czyrski, who smelled of alcohol, had glassy and bloodshot eyes and was “very unsteady” on his feet. He told police he had one 16-ounce beer, but he failed sobriety tests and the preliminary breath test registered 0.16 percent.

Czyrski was charged with DUI (highest rate of alcohol), general impairment, reckless driving and obedience to authorized persons directing traffic. He was arraigned early Saturday by District Judge Diane Marakovits and released on $15,000 unsecured bail.