Former Top Aid Gets Felony DWI After Crashing Car in Upstate NY

Former top aide in NY arrested

An Upstate NY woman who was the former aide to both Governor Kathy Hochul and ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo was cited for drunk driving last week when police say she smashed her car into a utility pole and fire hydrant.

“I am fully cognizant of the grave consequences of driving while intoxicated,” Viccaro said in a statement to The NY Post on Sunday.

Haley Viccaro, currently employed by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, was charged with "felony aggravated DWI and hit with several traffic infractions after wrecking her Toyota Rav4 around midnight on June 12th" according to a report by the NY Post.

 Second DWI arrest

According to the NY Post, this was Viccaro's second DWI arrest in Colonie - her first happened back in May of 2017.

According to police reports, Viccaro, 32, of Schenectady, was driving in her Toyota Rav4 at 11:20 p.m. near the intersection of Albany Shaker and Osborne roads, when she lost control of the car and smashed into a utility pole and fire hydrant.

The report states that she was on her cell phone when the crash occurred.

Slurred speech

Following the crash, officers were able to determine that Viccaro was under the influence.  According to the NY Post, she was slurring her speech her breath smelled like alcohol.

She failed field sobriety tests and tested positive for breath alcohol on a pre-screening device, according to the report.

Felony Aggravated DWI

In New York, any driver who has been convicted of an Aggravated DWI and commits that same crime within 10 years of their prior conviction may be charged with a Felony Aggravated DWI.

Felony Aggravated DWI can land a convicted driver in prison for up to seven years. Plus, the convicted driver may have to pay up to $10,000 in fines and will lose his or her license for a minimum of 18 months.