Driver charged after chase and crash into bus shelter in Albany

PHOTOGRAPHER: Steven Cook

A Guilderland man led police on a brief pursuit this morning that resulted in a pedestrian being hit and the driver crashing into a utility pole and CDTA bus shelter on Central Avenue, police said.

The pedestrian suffered minor injuries.

The suspect, identified as William Colclough, 54, of 1700 Western Ave., suffered facial injuries and was taken to Albany Medical Center for treatment.

The incident began just before 1 a.m. this morning, when police received a call of a man acting suspicious inside his parked vehicle on Manning Boulevard. The man was revving his engine for 30 minutes and was possibly drunk, the caller told police.

Officers arrived and approached Colclough, but he refused to roll down his window. The driver then continued to rev the engine, then put the car in reverse, backing up and narrowly missing the officer, police said.

The driver then hit a parked car and fled.

Officers chased the driver west onto Central Avenue. The driver then struck a car waiting at a red light, then crossed the eastbound lanes, hit the utility pole, the pedestrian and the bus shelter.

The suspect was taken into custody at the scene. Colclough faces charges of driving while intoxicated and assault. Other charges are expected.

The driver of the car struck at the red light was not injured.

Colclough is to be arraigned Tuesday.