STAFFORD, N.Y. — A Monroe County man faces grave legal charges following a fatal collision on the New York State Thruway on Friday night. The incident, which highlights the ongoing concerns regarding road safety in Western New York, resulted in the death of a 56-year-old driver and an immediate arrest for impaired driving.
Arrest and Charges Filed in Fatal Thruway Collision
New York State Police investigators have charged Patrick J. Hastings, 67, with Vehicular Manslaughter in the 2nd Degree and Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), alongside several additional vehicle and traffic violations. The charges follow a high-impact crash in the town of Stafford that claimed the life of Scott K. Berberian, 56.
The collision occurred at approximately 8:53 p.m. According to state authorities, Berberian was operating a 2017 GMC Pickup eastbound when it was allegedly rear-ended by a 2024 BMW X6, driven by Hastings. The force of the impact caused the GMC to overturn, leading to Berberian being ejected from the vehicle. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene.
Investigation Reveals Impairment
While Hastings was reported uninjured in the collision, Troopers on the scene observed clear signs of impairment. After reportedly failing a series of field sobriety tests, Hastings was taken into custody for processing. A breath sample subsequently registered a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .08%—the legal threshold for intoxication in New York State.
Hastings was subsequently transported to the Genesee County Jail for centralized arraignment. As an investigative reporter covering local news and community affairs, I am monitoring the legal proceedings as they move through the Genesee County court system.
State Police Appeal for Witnesses
The New York State Police are continuing their investigation into the crash dynamics and are seeking assistance from the public. Authorities are urging anyone who witnessed the incident or who may have dash camera footage from the eastbound Thruway near Stafford at the time of the crash to contact investigators at 585-344-6200.
Stay connected with Lake Erie Times for further updates on this developing story and other essential coverage of our Western New York community.
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