A New York State Trooper arrested a man on felony drunk driving charges after spotting a disabled vehicle on the shoulder of the NYS Thruway in West Nyack on Thursday evening, May 1.
At approximately 7:30 p.m., the trooper noticed the vehicle stopped on the left shoulder near mile marker 18.8 while on routine patrol. The driver, identified as Kenny Varma, was seated behind the wheel and showed signs of impairment, including the strong odor of alcohol.
Varma was asked to step out of the vehicle and perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, which he failed. He was taken into custody and transported to the State Police barracks in Tarrytown for processing.
At the station, Varma refused to submit to a chemical breath test after being read the DWI refusal warnings around 8:00 p.m. A further investigation revealed he had a prior DWI conviction within the last 10 years, elevating the current charge to a felony.
Varma was charged with Driving While Intoxicated (Felony), Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test, Driving on the Shoulder, Unsafe Lane Change, and Stopping/Standing on a Highway. He was issued appearance tickets returnable to the Town of Clarkstown Court and released to a sober third party.