Житель Роттердама приговорен к 20 годам тюрьмы за смертельное ДТП в пьяном виде в Альбани

ALBANY — A Rotterdam man was sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison Friday after previously pleading guilty to driving drunk and causing a fatal car accident, the Albany County District Attorney’s Office said. Matthew Merriman, 30, was identified after the Albany Police Department responded to a report of a vehicle crash near I-90 in Albany around 5:45 p.m. on Sept. 30, 2025, the DA’s office said. Merriman had been driving north on Everett Road with a BAC over 0.18% when he ran a red light and crashed into a vehicle driven by Matthew Mardon, 34, the DA’s office said. Mardon was exiting the I-90 off-ramp at the time of the crash. Officials found Mardon to be suffering from serious injuries, the DA’s office said. Despite efforts to provide treatment, Mardon died at the scene. Merriman was taken to Albany Medical Center, where his injuries were described as non-life-threatening, the DA’s office said. He was arrested on Oct. 1, 2025, after police observed signs of impairment after the crash. After his arrest, Merriman was initially charged with second-degree vehicular manslaughter, a felony, police said. He was also charged with two misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree reckless criminal mischief and several vehicle and traffic law violations. In November 2025, Merriman was formally arraigned on felony charges of aggravated vehicular homicide, second-degree manslaughter and second-degree assault, the DA’s office said. He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment before Judge Roger McDonough. On June 17, Merriman pleaded guilty to the felony charge of aggravated vehicular homicide, the DA’s office said. McDonough sentenced Merriman to a minimum of 6 and 2/3 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years, the DA’s office said.