Clifton Park woman convicted of manslaughter in car crash

PHOTOGRAPHER: David Lombardo

A Clifton Park woman is facing as much as 15 years in prison after she was found guilty today of second-degree manslaughter.

Traci L. Briskin, 39, was recklessly driving drunk Nov. 30, 2012, when her car crashed into a car being driven by Thomas Baker, 49, who died about a month later as the result of injuries from the crash. She was indicted in March for second-degree manslaughter, two counts of second-degree vehicular manslaughter and two misdemeanor counts of driving while intoxicated.

After a 10-day trial, Briskin was found guilty of second-degree manslaughter, a felony, and driving while ability impaired, a violation, according to a news release from the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office. She will be sentenced Dec. 2 and faces a maximum prison term of five to 15 years.

“We applaud the jury’s verdict because it holds Briskin criminally responsible for her reckless behavior,” said District Attorney James A. Murphy III. “You can’t drive recklessly while you’re impaired, take your eyes off the road, cross the center line and the fog line, run a stop sign, crash into a man and kill him and then say it’s just a mistake, as the defendant claims.”

Briskin was driving on Jockey Street in Charlton when she crossed the center line repeatedly and ran a stop sign without even touching her brakes, according to the release. Baker, who was driving on Route 67 and had the right of way, was taken to Albany Medical Center and was in the intensive care unit for about a month before dying Dec. 23, 2012.

Jury deliberation took almost 15 hours.