Connecticut man arrested for vehicular assault following intoxicated crash in Amenia

Amenia, New York – On May 15, 2016, New York State Police from Dover Plains arrested Jorge Mesinas-Lopez, 24 years old, of Salisbury, Connecticut, for Vehicular Assault in the 1^st Degree, a Class D Felony, Falsifying Business Records in the 1^st Degree, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation 1^st Degree, and Driving While Intoxicated, all Class E Felonies, as well as, other vehicle and traffic offenses.

On May 15, 2016 at approximately 3:30 p.m., New York State Police from the Dover barracks were dispatched by Dutchess County 911 to a one-car auto collision that occurred on State Route 343 in the area of Sharon Station Road in the Town of Amenia.

Jorge Mesinas-Lopez was operating a vehicle that was traveling westbound on Route 343 when it exited the roadway and struck a tree.  A 24-year-old passenger from Salisbury, Connecticut was transported to Mid-Hudson Regional Medical Center with serious injuries.

An investigation revealed that Mesinas-Lopez was intoxicated at the time of the collision and that his driving privileges were revoked due to a previous DWI conviction in the preceding 10 years.  During the course of the investigation, Mesinas-Lopez repeatedly provided a fictitious name which resulted in the generation of false documents.

Mesinas-Lopez was arraigned before Town Justice Norman Moore in the Town of Amenia Court and remanded to the Dutchess County Jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond.  He is due to reappear in the Town of Amenia Court on May 16, 2016 at 1:00 p.m.

The State Police were assisted by the Amenia Fire and Rescue Departments.