Drunk Driver Goes in Circles, Crashes Into Fence After Police Chase in City of Cortland

State Police say around 12:15 in the morning on Thursday, March 5, a traffic stop was attempted on a speeding vehicle on Clinton Ave in the City of Cortland. State Police say the Trooper witnessed additional traffic violations in addition to the speeding.

Police say the driver, later identified as 48 year old Craig R. Allen of Truxton, failed to stop his vehicle. Allen would continue driving onto North Main Street and then in a circle around Pudgie’s Pizza before taking off again on North Main Street; he would drive in circles around another parking lot on East Main Street before returning to North Main Street.

Allen would then head into the parking lot located directly across from Guthrie Cortland Medical Center and hit a fence. He was then taken into custody.

While interviewing Allen, police say Troopers smelled alcohol coming off Allen. He was then asked to do a sobriety test, which police say confirmed his impairment.

Allen was charged with felony Driving While Intoxicated due to having a previous conviction within the last 10 years. He was also charged with Unlawfully Fleeing a Police Officer, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation, and numerous traffic tickets.

He was transported to the State Police Barracks in Homer for processing and later turned over to the Cortland County Jail for Centralized Arraignment.