New City Man, 64, Accused Of DWI, Assault After Nanuet Crash

A 64-year-old New City man is charged with drunken driving and assault after a two-car accident Saturday evening in Nanuet, where two people were injured and had to be rescued from their wrecked car by volunteer fire and ambulance crews, according to .

Thomas Mathew of Cavalry Drive was arrested after the 6:40 p.m. crash on Route 304. Police said the crash took place during a lane change.

After the crash, police said Mathew was taken to Clarkstown police headquarters in New City, where tests showed his blood alcohol content was .14 — nearly double the legal limit. Mathew, police said, was not hurt in the crash.

In addition to driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, police said Mathew was charged with third-degree assault because of the injuries to occupants in the other car. Mathew was released pending a hearing in Clarkstown Town Court in New City.

The driver and passenger of the second car in the accident were taken to Nyack Hospital for treatment after they were assisted by volunteers from s and . Firefighters had to cut open the car to get the crash victims out of the vehicle.

The crash affected traffic on Route 304 for about an hour.