Medina man charged in Cambria accident that took down power lines, setting field on fire
Photos from Niagara County Sheriff’s Office: A farm field was partially on fire from downed power lines on Wednesday in the Town of Cambria.
This vehicle driven by David M. Acito came to rest on its roof.
CAMBRIA – A Medina man was charged after an accident in Niagara County where the driver struck and severed a utility pole, causing the damaged power lines to come down and start a fire in a farm field, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office reported.
David M. Acito, 32, wasn’t injured in the accident. Niagara County Sheriff’s Office were called at 6 p.m. on Wednesday for report of a motor vehicle accident near the intersection of Saunders
Settlement and Comstock roads. Initial reports stated that the vehicle had overturned and that live electrical transmission lines were beginning a ground fire.
Deputies responded to the scene and found a 2014 Ford resting on its roof in the farmer’s field southeast of the intersection. A ground fire had also started the adjacent farm field on fire.
Investigation at the scene revealed that the Ford was east bound on Saunders Settlement Road when it exited the roadway off the south edge. The vehicle traveled into and through the ditch before striking a utility pole just west of the intersection, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
The vehicle severed the pole off at the ground level causing the damaged power lines to come down and start the fire. The vehicle continued east bound, crossed over Comstock Road and came to rest in the field on its roof.
The fire was brought under control and was extinguished by members of the Cambria Volunteer Fire Company and the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station Fire Department.
Acito failed subsequent field sobriety tests and was charged with Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle and several other violations of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law. Acito was remanded to the Niagara County Jail where he will be arraigned today on the charges in Central Processing Court, the Sheriff’s Office stated in a press release.
