Griffin
KINGSTON – A Shandaken man, who was involved in a two-car crash on Route 28 in Shokan on August 25, 2015, is charged with vehicular manslaughter and criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Investigation revealed that a minivan, by Danny Griffin, 32, of Shandaken was westbound when it crossed into the eastbound lane and struck a car by Dolores Falkowski, 64, head-on. Falkowski, of Phoenicia, died on the way to the hospital. Griffin was also taken to the Health Alliance Hospital in Kingston for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
Following an investigation by State Police BCI and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office, it was determined that Griffin had been driving under the influence of Fentanyl, an opiate-derived controlled substance 50 times more powerful than heroin.
Police found a large number of used hypodermic needles, heroin, and pipes used to smoke crack cocaine inside his vehicle.
The case was presented to a grand jury, which indicted Falkowski. He is in the Ulster County Jail in lieu of $15,000 cash bail.
