Police: Driver who caused Albany St. crash was drunk

PHOTOGRAPHER: Peter R. Barber

Schenectady firefighters work to free a passenger of a car that jumped a curb and crashed, April 19, 2018.

SCHENECTADY — A drunken driver lost control of his vehicle on Albany Street this morning, crashing into a fire hydrant and injuring a passenger, police said.

Joshua McMichael, 25, faces several charges related to the crash, including driving while intoxicated. Further charges related to the passenger’s injuries are possible, police said.

The incident happened at 3:37 a.m. near 1317 Albany St.

Albany St, including directly in front of Keane ES, is closed off this morning due to a multi-car accident. Keane is open. If you drop your child off at school, you may be redirected to a different drop-off point, than usual.

— Schenectady Schools (@SCSchools) April 19, 2018

Officers arrived to find four occupants in need of aid. City surveillance camera footage showed the veachicle headed east on Albany at a high rate of speed before the crash, police said.

McMichael suffered minor injuries and was treated at Ellis Hospital. His front seat passenger suffered a broken arm and was taken to Albany Medical Center, police said.

Other passengers suffered minor injuries, police said.

McMichael also faces reckless driving and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle charges.

After he was processed by city police, he was turned over to Colonie police on an unrelated warrant, police said.

The crash was still under investigation as of Thursday afternoon.

Schenectady firefighters work to free a passenger of a car that jumped a curb and crashed, April 19, 2018. (Peter R. Barber)

An SUV that was parked in front of 1311 Albany Street lays on it’s side in the bushes after it was crashed into by a car that jumped the curb, April 19, 2018. (Peter R. Barber)

Residents of 1311 Albany Street look on in amazement after a car lost control and and wiped out the front porch of their home, April 18, 2018. (Peter R. Barber)