UTICA -- A Utica man is accused of driving drunk with two teenagers in the car.
State police say it happened around 2:15 a.m. Tuesday. Trooper say 19-year-old Christopher Evans, of Richardson Avenue, was driving his 2003 Nissan Altima westbound on State Route 5 in the town of Vernon. Deputies say he was driving at around 83 miles per hour in a 55 mile per hour zone. They say 15 and 17-year-old girls were riding in the car.
Authorities say Evans was driving drunk with a blood alcohol content of .16 percent, which is twice the legal limit.
The two teenage girls were handed over to a legal guardian.
Evans is charged with aggravated DWI under Leandra's Law, driving while intoxicated, endangering the welfare of a child and other traffic violations.
He was arraigned in the Town of Vernon court and sent to the Oneida County Jail on $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond.
If convicted, what is an appropriate punishment? Do you agree that driving with minors should be a felony charge? Leave your thoughts below.
