Driver in Restaurant Row Crash in County Jail

Back in Peekskill Court next Thursday

Accident+investigators+from+Westchester+County+at+scene+of+Thursday+night+crash+on+North+Division+Street.++Peekskill+Walks+photo

Accident investigators from Westchester County at scene of Thursday night crash on North Division Street. Peekskill Walks photo

By Regina Clarkin

John Watson, the driver in Thursday’s Restaurant Row crash, is due to return to Peekskill City Court on December 2nd. He is being held in Westchester County Jail after being arraigned in court on Friday.  Watson, 56, of Peekskill was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 3rd and 7th degrees relating to the possession of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines. 

Possession in the 3rd degree is a Class B felony and is based on aggravating circumstances such as the weight of possession and intent to sell. He is also charged with operating a motor vehicle while ability impaired by drugs, and vehicular assault in the 2nd degree. 

All the charges are in connection to the crash that took place at 8 p.m. on North Division Street that saw three pedestrians injured and three storefronts damaged. 

According to a Peekskill Police Department press release issued earlier today:“Peekskill Police patrol units responded to the area of the 10 block of North Division St for a report of a serious motor vehicle accident with injuries. Upon their arrival, they discovered a blue Cadillac Escalade with heavy front end and driver side damage at rest on the sidewalk. The operator of the Escalade was still behind the wheel at the time of police arrival and was identified as 56 year old Peekskill resident, John Watson. It was quickly determined that the Escalade had initially collided with a parked, unoccupied vehicle, causing the Escalade to careen on to the sidewalk, striking an unoccupied motorcycle and three male pedestrians. The accident also caused significant damage to City and privately owned property and buildings on the 10 block of North Division St. The struck pedestrians had varying levels of injury, requiring all of them to be transported to Westchester Medical Center. One of the struck pedestrians is still in critical condition, the other two were treated and released the following day. The driver that caused the accident, John Watson, was transported to Westchester Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries and arrested.”