Drivers in Rotterdam crash face DWI charges

PHOTOGRAPHER: Peter R. Barber

A Rotterdam police officer inspects damage to the Bellevue Gospel Chapel in Rotterdam after it was impacted by the collision of a Honda minivan and a Chevrolet Camaro in an early morning accident. Two passengers from the minivan were taken by Rotterdam Am

Two people are facing driving-while-intoxicated charges following a Sunday morning crash, where both cars struck each other and then hit buildings.

The accident occurred just after 3:30 a.m. A Chevrolet Camaro driven by 21-year-old Lauren Nixon of Schenectady and a Honda minivan driven by 21-year-old Justin O’Hare of Guilderland were driving south on Guilderland Avenue. O’Hare began to pass Nixon and both vehicles struck each other, according to Rotterdam Police Lt. Jason Murphy.

O’Hare’s vehicle then struck the building and fence of Bellevue Gospel Church at 2702 Guilderland Ave. Nixon’s car struck the front porch of 2715 Guilderland Ave. It also struck a utility pole, which caused some residents to lose power briefly. The vehicles clipped the church sign and put a hole in the brick entranceway. There was no significant structural damage, but the church will have to prop up the sign.

Both drivers and a passenger of O’Hare’s were treated at Albany Medical Center and Ellis Hospital, all for minor injuries.

Both O’Hare and Nixon face charges of driving while intoxicated, speeding, reckless driving, failure to keep right and driving without a license. O’Hare also was charged with passing in a no-passing zone. Nixon also was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation.