MAYFIELD - A passenger in a car driven by an alleged drunken driver was killed Sunday afternoon in a two-vehicle crash on Route 30 that caused three other injuries, Fulton County sheriff's deputies reported.
Deputies said James T. Borland, 20, of 40 Fourth Ave., Gloversville - a passenger in a 1992 Honda driven by Steven W. Bristol, 25, of 17 Alexander St., Gloversville - was transported to Nathan Littauer Hospital in Gloversville, where he died. Deputies said Borland suffered internal injuries.
The accident occurred at 3:07 p.m., south of Dennie Loop Road in the town of Mayfield, deputies said.
Bristol, who was ticketed on charges of driving while intoxicated and failure to keep right, suffered severe bleeding to his head.
Deputies said Bristol was northbound on Route 30 when he lost control of the car. The vehicle crossed into the southbound lane. A pickup truck driven by Joshua M. Lare, 34, of Guilderland, was southbound on Route 30, and it struck Bristol's car in the passenger side. Both vehicles went off the southbound side of Route 30, coming to rest in a small field, deputies said.
Sheriff Thomas J. Lorey said Borland and Bristol were friends.
Fulton County District Attorney Louise K. Sira said today she was not sure of the driver's exact blood-alcohol level until a blood test is released from the state police lab in Albany in a couple of weeks.
She said she's not sure if the DWI charge against Bristol will be upgraded.
"We're waiting for his blood analysis to come back," she said.
Lorey, who was at the scene of the fatal accident, said today the truck landed on top of the car.
He said his department is still investigating where Borland and Bristol were in the hours before the accident. He said Bristol may face "other charges" from the crash.
The other driver, Lare, suffered minor bleeding to his head. A passenger in that 1997 Chevy pickup truck - David J. Spiak, 50 - complained of a leg injury.
The injured were taken to Nathan Littauer Hospital for treatment.
The hospital switchboard said Bristol was still at the hospital this morning.
All four people involved in the crash used their lap belts and harnesses, deputies said.
Alcohol involvement was listed on the report by Deputy Michael Wagner as an apparent contributing factor.
Lorey said there may be two strong lessons to learn from this fatal accident.
"Number one, when it snows, it's slippery," he stated. "Number two, you can't drink and drive."
Sira said she was not aware of any other drunken-driving-related fatalities in Fulton County this year.
"We've been fortunate enough," Sira said.
Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald