Crime & Safety

PA Man Charged with DWI in Wrong-Way Crash on I-84

Car heading east in the westbound lanes slammed into car in Montgomery.

A Pennsylvania man was charged with drunken driving after a head-on crash in which he was traveling in the wrong direction on I-84, according to State Police.

James G. Onyango, 50, 2815 Valley View Drive, Buskill, PA, was arrested after a 4:48 p.m. incident on Sunday in Montgomery in Orange County. Police said Onyango was driving a gray 2003 Toyota Corolla, heading eastbound in the westbound traffic lanes.

Onyango's car slammed head-on to a 2011 Ford Escape, with two other cars becoming involved in the wreck. A fifth vechicle spun out to avoid the pileup, police said.

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Richard Randazzo, the driver of the Escape, was taken to St. Lukes Hospital in Newburgh, where police said he was treated and released.

An investigation led to Onyango being charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated, police said, because his blood alcohol level was higher that .18 percent — more than twice the legal limit. He was also charged with:

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- reckless endangerment

- reckless driving

- traffic violations for driving the wrong way on the highway

- traffic violations for having an open container of alcohol in his car

Onyango was released pending a Jan. 3 hearing in Town of Montgomery Court. Police are asking that anyone who may have witnessed the incident call them at 845-457-1388.


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