Eight pedestrians were struck by a vehicle in a parking lot near a business in the 1100 block of Erie Avenue in North Tonawanda on Friday, with several of them pinned between the car and the building's exterior wall. Seven were taken to local hospitals, and some suffered serious injuries.
Driver Charged With DWI, Reckless Driving
According to Newport Dispatch, the driver has been identified as 73-year-old Charles Brancato of Tonawanda. He was arrested at the scene and charged with driving while intoxicated and reckless driving.
Police say the vehicle was exiting a parking spot after an event at the business when the driver lost control and crashed into a crowd of pedestrians gathered in the lot. The impact left several people pinned against the building before the car came to a stop, per the same report.
Seven Hospitalized, Investigation Ongoing
Seven of the eight injured pedestrians were transported to local hospitals for treatment, and some were reported to have suffered serious injuries, the outlet noted. The exact nature of those injuries has not been detailed publicly.
The North Tonawanda Police Department's accident investigation team is handling the case, and additional charges remain pending the outcome of that investigation, the report states. No further details about the business involved or the precise timing of the crash have been released.
A Broader Pattern of Drunk-Driving Harm
Cases like this one land against a grim national backdrop. Mothers Against Drunk Driving says that every day in America, 37 people are killed and more than 1,000 are injured in drunk-driving crashes. New York's own Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1192, maintained by the New York State Senate, governs operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated or under the influence, though the specific penalty classification tied to Brancato's charges has not been detailed.
For now, the North Tonawanda community is left waiting on investigators to determine whether additional charges will follow. No word yet on court dates or how the eight injured pedestrians are recovering.
