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Police: both drivers drunk in Lewis County head-on crash
By BRIAN KELLY
TIMES STAFF WRITER
SATURDAY, JULY 5, 2008

Both drivers involved in a head-on collision early Friday on Osceola Road in the town of Lewis face charges of driving while intoxicated.

Lewis County sheriff's deputies charged Deforest J. Flansburg, 26, Kotary Road, Constableville, with DWI and Robert A. Lancette, 53, of 5550 Ava Road, Ava, with felony DWI following the crash, which occurred just after midnight.

Police said Mr. Flansburg was driving his pickup truck north on Osceola Road when his vehicle crossed the center line and struck an oncoming truck operated by Mr. Lancette. The Lancette vehicle crossed the center of the road and ended up in a ditch on the opposite side. The Flansburg vehicle came to rest in the center of the road.

Police said both vehicles had their front driver's-side tires and hub assemblies ripped off, with the wreckage coming to rest about 470 feet away. Both men, who were traveling alone, refused medical treatment.

Police said Mr. Lancette failed field sobriety tests and, in addition to felony DWI, was charged with felony aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, refusing to submit to a chemical test and failure to keep right.

Mr. Flansburg was charged with DWI after his blood alcohol content was found to be 0.13 percent, police said. State law establishes 0.08 percent BAC as the threshold for intoxication. He additionally was charged with failure to keep right.

Mr. Lancette was arraigned in Lewis Town Court and sent to Lewis County jail, Lowville, on $1,500 bail. West Leyden Fire and Ambulance assisted at the scene.

Also facing DWI charges:

■ Todd M. Brothers, 37, of 2235 County Route 38, Norfolk, was charged Thursday after a traffic stop on Route 420 in the town of Norfolk. Norfolk police said they observed Mr. Brothers driving over road hazard markings and crossing the center line several times before pulling him over. His blood alcohol content was 0.15 percent, police said.

Mr. Brothers also was charged with failure to keep right and driving over road hazard markings.

■ Joshua E. Martin, 20, of 1394 County Route 2, Richland, was charged by state police at 2:39 a.m. Friday on Route 11 in the village of Pulaski. Police said he was northbound on a motorcycle when he failed to maintain his lane, left the roadway and came to rest on the road's shoulder. He declined medical treatment. Police allege his BAC was 0.12 percent.

■ Ashley M. Hutchins, 19, of 9783 Railroad St., Castorland, was charged by Lewis County sheriff's deputies at 11:37 p.m. Wednesday on Rural Avenue in Lowville. She allegedly had a blood alcohol content of 0.14 percent. She also was charged with making an improper signal.

■ Geoffrey M. Thorp, 30, Easton, Pa., was charged by state police at 10:26 p.m. Thursday on Route 11 in the village of Pulaski. His BAC was 0.13 percent, police said. He also was charged with doing 45 mph in a 30-mph zone.

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