Wrong-Way Driver Pleads Guilty in Saw Mill Parkway Crash

A wrong-way driver has pleaded guilty relating to a car crash on the Saw Mill Parkway that seriously injured another driver.

Acting Westchester County District Attorney James A. McCarty announced that Tess Keegan, 23, of 315 Route 21, South Salem, New York, pled guilty today to the following:

• one count of Aggravated Vehicular Assault: .18 of 1% Or More Alcohol In Blood, a class “C” Felony,
• one count of Violation of Section 1192 Subdivision 3 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York, an unclassified Misdemeanor

The crash occurred on Aug. 7, 2015 at about 12:05 am, when Keegan was behind the wheel of a 2010 Kia Forte heading southbound in the northbound lanes of the Saw Mill River Parkway in New Castle, according to the DA.

Keegan collided with another vehicle, a 2008 Toyota Camry being driven by the victim. As a result of the crash, the man was pinned inside his car and needed to be extricated by the Pleasantville Fire Department.

He was transported to the Westchester County Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, some of which required surgery. Those injuries included a left femoral fracture, fractures to his ribs, back and toe; a lung contusion and a laceration to his head which required nine staples to close the wound.

He did survive, the DA said.

The Westchester Country Police were on the scene and noted that Keegan had no shoes on her feet, an odor of alcohol on her breath, glassy blood shot eyes and impaired coordination. She was placed under arrest.

A subsequent analysis of her blood revealed that she operated her vehicle with a blood alcohol content of 0.22 percent, the DA said.

Bail was continued. Sentencing will be on June 1, 2016.

Assistant District Attorney Kerrie Williams of the Superior Court Trial Division, is prosecuting the case.