Police: 2 Nights, 2 DWI Charges on Westchester Avenue

A man police say "demolished" his vehicle during an accident on Westchester Avenue this week has been charged with felony driving while intoxicated. Then, 18 hours later, another man was arrested on the same road.

Police arrived at the intersection of White Plans and Westchester Avenues at about 4:50 a.m. on Sept. 24 and found 28-year-old Andrew Balsam standing next to his vehicle at the scene of the accident. Police say Balsam, of 22 Elizabeth Street in Port Chester, was visibly under the influence of alcohol and had alcohol on his breath.

According to his arrest report, Balsam told police the accident took place when he was cut off by another vehicle while driving from Purchase to Dobbs Ferry. Police say he admitted to drinking half a dozen beers before attempting to drive.

Balsam was transported to White Plains hospital to treat injuries sustained during the crash. He was also charged with driving while intoxicated and is due in Harrison Court on October 4.

The following night, on Sept. 25, police say they caught another man driving drunk on Westchester Avenue. This time police were tipped off when they noticed a nearly empty bottle of whiskey lying on the passenger side floor.

Police spotted the bottle of liquor during a routine traffic stop near 2125 Westchester Avenue at about 9:45 p.m. The driver, Andrew Thurman, 21, of Boston, MA., appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, police say.

While searching the vehicle, police say they found a McDonalds coffee cup half filled with liquor and placed Thurman under arrest. At police headquarters Thurman agreed to a blood-alcohol test, which determined his blood-alcohol level to be .12—the legal limit to drive in New York State is .08.

Thurman was summonsed for the open container and charged with driving while intoxicated. He is due in Harrison Court on Oct. 18.