Driver charged with Leandra’s Law after striking guide rails on I-81
On Monday, July 29, 2019, at approximately 4:32 p.m.., state police in North Syracuse responded to the vicinity of Interstate 81 near Exit 27 in the town of Salina for an erratic driver and possible motor vehicle collision. Multiple 911 callers reported a tan sedan traveling northbound on Interstate 81 hitting guide rails and failing to maintain its lane.
When patrol arrived, they located a 2010 Dodge Caliber stopped along the right shoulder of the roadway with a flat rear tire. The male driver, later identified as Timothy F. Gioia, was found unconscious and having agonal breathing. Troopers immediately administered two doses of Narcan and Gioia regained consciousness within a few minutes. He was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center, where he was treated for a heroin overdose and released.
Two child passengers in the vehicle, ages 7 and 8, were uninjured and released to a family member.
The driver, Gioia, 37, of Oswego, was arrested for two counts of aggravated DWI (Leandra’s Law), a class E felony; two counts endangering the welfare of a child, one count of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, both misdemeanors.
He was transported to the Onondaga County Justice Center for centralized arraignment.
Fulton man arrested for driving under the influence of drugs following hit-and-run collision on I-81
On July 26, 2019, at approximately 6:30 p.m., state police responded to a personal injury automobile collision involving a grey pickup truck on I-81 northbound near mile marker 103 in the town of Hastings.
While en route, Oswego County 911 notified troopers that a grey pickup truck was possibly a suspect vehicle involved in a hit-and-run collision that just occurred on I-81 northbound in Cicero, Onondaga County.
When troopers arrived on the scene, they located the operator of a grey 2003 Chevrolet Silverado, later identified as Shane M. Scaggs, unconscious and having agonal breathing. EMS personnel administered Narcan to the operator, who then became conscious and alert.
Scaggs was then transported by Menter Ambulance to SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, where he was treated for a heroin overdose. Scaggs, 36, of Fulton, was subsequently arrested and charged with driving while ability impaired with drugs, third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, and leaving the scene of a property damage accident for rear-ending a 2015 Ford Focus on I-81 and not stopping.
He was released on an appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear in Cicero Town Court at 5 p.m. Aug. 15, 2019, for leaving the scene of a hit-and-run accident and in Hastings Town Court at 4 p.m. Aug. 26, 2019, to answer for driving while ability impaired by drugs and third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.