Impaired driver arrested after collision with trooper car, police say
Christopher Alaimo, 19, of South Setauket, was arrested and charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs after New York State Police said he cut off a trooper on Route 109 in Farmingdale on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, causing an accident. Credit: NYSP
A 19-year-old South Setauket man was arrested and charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs after he cut off a trooper on Route 109 in Farmingdale on Saturday, causing an accident, State Police said.
The trooper, whose identity was not released, suffered wrist and back pain and was taken to St. Joseph Hospital in Bethpage, police said in a Monday news release. He was released later that day, police said.
The accident occurred near the intersection of Route 109 and Main Street at 6:19 p.m.
Christopher Alaimo was driving a black Dodge westbound on Route 109 when he made a left turn in front of the eastbound trooper, who is assigned to the Farmingdale barracks, police said. The trooper swerved to avoid a collision, but crashed into a Ford pickup truck that was on Main Street.
The driver of the Ford was not injured, police said.
Police said that during the subsequent investigation Alaimo admitted to having smoked marijuana before the crash. He also failed sobriety tests, police said, and was found to be in possession of "a small amount" of marijuana.
But his attorney, Brian Griffin of Garden City, denied Alaimo was impaired by drugs.
"He was fully coherent and cooperative with the police," Griffin said. "He will enter a not guilty plea at the time of his arraignment and we are confident that he will be vindicated at trial."
Alaimo was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs and unlawful possession of marijuana. He was given an appearance ticket and given a court date of Nov. 28 in First District Court in Hempstead.
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SARRA SOUNDS OFF: Newsday's Gregg Sarra hosts a new show covering the latest in high school sports on Long Island.
SARRA SOUNDS OFF: Newsday's Gregg Sarra hosts a new show covering the latest in high school sports on Long Island.
