A New York state lawmaker was arrested on New Year’s Eve for drunken driving after he was involved in a car crash near his home.
Brian Kolb, 67, the top Republican in the state Assembly, was driving a 2018 GMC Acadia on Tuesday night when the crash occurred at 10:27 p.m. on County Road 41 in the town of Victor, New York, according to the Auburn Pub.
He was not injured in the incident, but he was arrested by Ontario County sheriff’s deputies and charged with driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol content over 0.08% and making an unsafe turn. The next day, he released a statement apologizing for getting behind the wheel after drinking.
“I want to offer sincere apologies to my family, friends, colleagues, and the people of the 131st Assembly District,” Kolb said. “I fully recognize the severity of the situation and I am profoundly sorry. There is no excuse and no justification for what occurred Tuesday evening. I made the wrong decision, and it is one I deeply regret.”
Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb says he was charged last night for driving under the influence pic.twitter.com/HHcuSRqFi9
— Nick Reisman (@NickReisman) January 1, 2020
On Christmas Eve, Kolb wrote an editorial calling for people to drink responsibly. He warned, “Many of our holiday traditions, especially our New Year’s Eve celebrations, involve indulging in spirits. Done safely, and in moderation, these can be wonderful holiday experiences. However, tragedy can be only one bad decision away.”
