State police said a domestic dispute a Wappingers Falls man had with his girlfriend prompted him to lead troopers on a 60-mile, booze-fueled, high-speed jaunt up the Northway before crashing in Saratoga County late Monday.
Matthew J Ripo, 22, was charged with reckless endangerment, unlawful fleeing in a motor vehicle, driving while intoxicated and multiple traffic violations. He is awaiting arraignment following his release from the Albany Medical Center hospital for injuries sustained in the crash.
Investigators were initially dispatched to a domestic dispute involving Ripo in the Dutchess County town of Lagrange on Monday evening. Police said a woman claiming to be Ripo’s ex-girlfriend described him as being drunk when a dispute erupted between them and he attempted to run her over with his truck.
Troopers located Ripo driving on the Taconic State Parkway in the Columbia County town of Austerlitz and attempted to stop him. But police said Ripo ignored the emergency lights and sirens, prompting a chase to ensue.
Investigators said the pursuit lasted for about 35 minutes and covered roughly 60 miles along the Taconic, the Thruway, Interstate 787, Route 7 and ultimately the Northway. They said Ripo operated his vehicle recklessly at a high rate of speed without headlights during the chase.
Ripo’s truck flipped just south of Exit 16 in Wilton shortly after 10 p.m. The vehicle then burst into flames, causing injures to Ripo.
Ripo was airlifted to Albany Med with non-life-threatening injuries, which included a broken arm and serious burns to his shoulder and arm.
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