62-Year-Old Hudson Valley Man's Second Felony DWI Left Victim Injured

KINGSTON, NY — A repeat drunken driver's luck ran out, for both him, and the victim of his actions.

The Ulster County District Attorney's Office says that 62-year-old Donald Ellsworth, of Kingston, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to felony aggravated vehicular assault and felony aggravated driving while intoxicated. The charges are in connection to a July 14 incident, at the intersection of East Chester Street and Flatbush Avenue, in Kingston.

Prosecutors say that Ellsworth failed to yield to the right of way at the four-way intersection and struck the victim's vehicle head on as she was driving through a green light. The victim sustained a broken collarbone.

An analysis of Ellsworth's blood found a blood alcohol level of .25, which is more than three times the legal limit.

The DA's Office says that Ellsworth had been previously convicted in Ulster County Court in 2019 for felony aggravated driving while intoxicated, indicating he drove under the influence of .18 of alcohol in his blood or had a child 15 years old or younger in the car while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Ellsworth is scheduled to be sentenced on April 7, as a second felony offender. This is his fourth alcohol-related conviction, according to prosecutors.