CORTLAND, N.Y. — A Cortland County man was charged with DWI following a rollover crash in the town of Cincinnatus Monday morning.
Jason M. Rice, 18, of Willet, was traveling north on Route 26 shortly after 11 a.m. when he rounded the corner near the intersection with Route 41 and went into the oncoming lane, according to the Cortland County Sheriff's Office.
Another vehicle driven by Matthew P. Andino, 33, of Warners, N.Y., was traveling south on Route 26 and was approaching the same intersection when Rice drifted into his lane. Andino was then forced off the roadway trying to avoid a collision with Rice, the sheriff's office said in a news release.
Andino's vehicle sustained minor damage from hitting a sign post, deputies said.
Rice continued north on Route 26 for about a half of a mile when he lost control of the vehicle, hit a ditch and a mailbox before flipping the vehicle over onto its roof and coming to rest in the middle of Route 26 near the intersection with Route 23, authorities said. Rice was transported to Wilson Memorial Hospital in Johnson City for treatment of minor injuries.
Deputies later determined that Rice was under the influence and impaired by "some type of drug." He was charged with misdemeanors of driving while intoxicated and driving while ability impaired, as well as violations of failure to keep right and speed not reasonable and prudent.
He was issued traffic tickets to appear in Cincinnatus Town Court at a later date. No other passengers were in Rice's vehicle, deputies said.
Rice was the driver of a vehicle in a June 1 crash that injured Linsey M. Turshman. He was later charged with excessive speed.
