Supervisor charged after traffic accident

By DAVID HULSE

LIBERTY, NY — State police say Lumberland Supervisor and county legislature candidate John LiGreci was charged with DWI on September 23 following an accident on Route 17 near Parksville in the Town of Liberty.

Police charge that LiGreci, 52, driving a 2001 BMW, was traveling eastbound in the westbound lane for approximately one-half mile before striking a 2001 Toyota operated by Robert Bonaparte of Flushing, NY.

There were no injuries and LiGreci was issued tickets to be answered on October 2 in Town of Liberty Court.

LiGreci confirmed on Monday that he had been involved in an accident, but said there had been no head-on collision, as had been reported, and that he had not been driving the wrong direction on the highway. “The front wheel well of my car was hit and the car spun all the way around to face the other direction,” he said.

Police tests reportedly showed LiGreci’s blood alcohol level at .12, above the legal limit of .08.

LiGreci on Monday admitted having consumed two glasses of wine prior to the accident. “Anyone who knows me will confirm that I am not a drinker,” he added.

LiGreci’s opponent in the November election, Kathy LaBuda, would not comment on the incident. “That’s not what the election’s about,” she said Saturday.

Both candidates appeared at the Yulan Von Steuben Day celebration and LiGreci received shouts of support from spectators as he drove the parade route. “I’ve gotten well over 200 calls from people supporting and encouraging me,” he said.

He said the incident would not affect his plans to run. “I’m going to keep going. I will not drop, out because I owe it to the people of Sullivan County to keep fighting for all their needs,” he said.