Brewster police: illegal immigrant drove employer's truck drunk, without license
By Christine Pizzuti • cpizzuti@lohud.com • July 5, 2009

BREWSTER - Less than a month after a mother and daughter were killed by a drunk driver in the village, another illegal immigrant was charged with driving while intoxicated Friday after he allegedly fled from police, plowing through a series of stop signs in a small dump truck owned by his employer.

Segundo Tanay, 26, was arrested after a woman who was driving behind him on Route 6 called 911 to report his erratic driving at about 5 p.m., Village Officer in Charge John DelGardo said.

"He was all over the road," said DelGardo.

While on the phone with 911, the woman followed the driver into the village, where an officer was waiting.

Once Tanay saw the officer behind him, he allegedly made a quick left onto a side street, and led Pat Frezza, a K-9 officer, on a chase without even slowing at stop signs, said DelGardo.

Segundo finally pulled over, but refused to get out of the truck, which is owned by his employer - JNC Construction Corporation, which could not be reached today.

Once outside of the truck, he appeared to be badly intoxicated. He refused a breath test and failed the field sobriety test, said DelGardo.

"He couldn't even stand up. He was falling down," said DelGardo. "He couldn't find his nose."

Tanay, who lives at 7025 Surrey Dr. in Danbury, Conn., was likely on his way home, DelGardo said. The construction company has a PO Box in Brewster, but has an office in Danbury, as well.

No one from the company has come forward to retrieve the truck, which was impounded.

"His boss gave him the truck," DelGardo said. "They have to come for the truck."

DelGardo said Tanay doesn't have a license.

He was charged with misdemeanor DWI, refusing a chemical test, failing a sobriety test, running a stop sign, failure to signal, failure to comply and failure to obtain a license.

He was arraigned and sent to Putnam County Jail on $2,500 bail or $5,000 bond. He his due back in court July 13.

On June 8, Lori Donohue, 37, and her daughter, Kayla Donohue, 8, were killed by a white pickup truck driven by Zacarias Conses-Garcia, while the two were walking out of the child's dance class at the intersection of Routes 6 and 22.

Police said Conses-Garcia, 35, an illegal immigrant who does not have a license, was intoxicated. He's been indicted on two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide.

The truck belonged to Valerie Ann Renihan, a northern Westchester horse trainer. Renihan's lawyer has said Conses-Garcia took the truck without Renihan's permission.

DelGardo said he's thankful Tanay didn't kill anyone.

"Between this great woman (the driver who reported Tanay) and my officer, we stopped this guy from doing that," said DelGardo.

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