Driver, Passenger Arrested After Car Ran Out Of Gas On The Taconic: NYSP

PLEASANT VALLEY, NY — A driver who ran out of gas on the highway, soon had much bigger problems, according to police.

The New York State Police say that on Friday, around 5:54 p.m., a trooper from Poughkeepsie stopped to assist a disabled vehicle on the Taconic State Parkway, in the town of Pleasant Valley.

Troopers say the 2017 Nissan had run out of gas.

The driver was identified as 31-year-old Melissa R. Cammarata, of Ridgewood, while the front seat passenger was identified as 35-year-old Pauline D. Seng, also of Ridgewood.

While speaking with Cammarata, the trooper says they noticed signs of intoxication, and administered standardized field sobriety tests, which she failed, according to cops.

Cammarata was taken into custody for driving while intoxicated.

Then, an inventory of the vehicle led to the discovery of around 134.2 grams of cocaine, an estimated 10.4 grams of ketamine, and about 9 grams of MDMA, NYSP said.

Seng was also taken into custody. At the time of her arrest, she was found to be in possession of several Adderall pills, according to police.

The pair was transported to the Poughkeepsie barracks for processing, where Cammarata took a chemical breath test that yielded a blood alcohol content of 0.17 percent, according to police.

Cammarata was charged with felony criminal possession of a controlled substance (narcotic drug); felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (intent to sell); felony fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (ketamine); felony fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance; misdemeanor seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; misdemeanor second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia (scales); misdemeanor operating a motor vehicle with 0.08 percent or more of 1 percent alcohol in blood; and misdemeanor driving while intoxicated.

Seng was charged with felony criminal possession of a controlled substance (narcotic drug); felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (intent to sell); felony fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (ketamine); felony fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance; three misdemeanor counts seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; and misdemeanor second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia (scales).

Seng and Cammarata were arraigned in the Town of Pleasant Valley Court and released. They are scheduled to return to court on April 28.