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Police chase ends in Akwesasne; caused three collisions, two drivers injured

Posted 10/4/16

AKWESASNE -- A driver is jailed following a police chase from Fort Covington that ended here and resulted in three separate collisions and injuries to two drivers. Christopher R. Lee, 27, of Bangor …

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Police chase ends in Akwesasne; caused three collisions, two drivers injured

Posted

AKWESASNE -- A driver is jailed following a police chase from Fort Covington that ended here and resulted in three separate collisions and injuries to two drivers.

Christopher R. Lee, 27, of Bangor is jailed on charges of third-degree unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, driving while ability impaired by drugs, two counts of second-degree reckless endangerment and “numerous traffic violations,” state police said.

On Monday around 3:28 p.m., troopers attempted to pull over a 2007 Dodge minivan on state Route 37 about six miles east of Akwesasne. The vehicle, driven by Lee, sped away from police.

After a brief pursuit, Lee lost control of the vehicle and exited the north shoulder of the road just east of Cook Road. There, he struck a 2008 Chevrolet operated by Levi M. Swamp, 47, of Awkesasne, which was parked in the parking lot of Truck Stop #9.

The force of the collision caused Swamp’s vehicle to strike a cement pillar at the gas pumps and a large flower pot.

Lee’s vehicle was then struck from behind by a state police patrol vehicle driven by Trooper James T. Egan.

From there, Lee continued westbound striking another 2007 Dodge, operated by Louise C. White, 31, of Akwesasne, which was stopped at the stop sign on Cook Road, troopers said.

A 2011 Dodge, operated by Sara R. Besaw, 39, of Bombay, was stopped behind White’s vehicle on Cook Road and was struck by a renegade flowerpot from Truck Stop #9, troopers said.

Several videos showing the collision are posted here. They are date stamped Oct. 3, 2016.

From there, Lee fled on foot and after a short foot pursuit, was taken into custody by state police and a tribal police member.

White and Swamp were transported to Massena Memorial Hospital where they were treated for minor pain and released. Lee and Egan were not injured, troopers said.

Lee was arraigned in the Town of Bombay Court and remanded to the Franklin County Jail, Malone in lieu of $20,000 bail or $40,000 bond.

He is to reappear on Oct. 11 at 5 p.m.

There is an ongoing investigation into the incident, troopers said.