Passenger Abandons Designated Driver on I-684, Crashes Car

NORTH CASTLE, NY – A guy acting as designated driver for a group of people Sept. 17 made the mistake of pulling over on I-684 so that one of his passengers could throw up.

One of his other passengers apparently wasn't interested in waiting. Police said he hopped into the driver's seat and drove away, leaving the DD lying injured on the shoulder after he grabbed the car to try and stop it.

Now a Bronx 25-year-old faces charges connected to the 4 a.m. incident, including DWI, a misdemeanor, and also second-degree assault and reckless endangerment, both felonies.

New York State Police arrested Anthony Velazquez in Dutchess County, where he was found after a one-car crash on Old Hopewell Road in Wappinger. Police said he was driving the victim’s vehicle and appeared to be intoxicated.

Velazquez was charged with DWI at the Wappinger barracks and transported to the Somers barracks for the Assault charges. Then he was arraigned in North Castle Town Court and sent to the Westchester County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bond or $7,500 cash bail. He is due to appear in both town courts at a later date and time.

The victim, found on I-684 in the area of mile post marker 5.5, sustained a non-life threatening head injury, police said. He was treated by North Castle EMS on the scene and refused further medical attention.