Police say driver in fatal crash had suspended license

Feb. 28--The investigation into a fatal two-car accident Saturday on Bear Spring Mountain in Walton is continuing, Delaware County deputies said on Monday.

Andrew Thompson, 43, of Tenafly, New Jersey, was declared dead at the scene, deputies said.

The investigation has revealed that Joel Alves, 41, of Hopewell Junction was driving with a suspended driver's license at the time of the crash, Delaware County Undersheriff Craig DuMond said. The license was suspended for charges of failure to answer summonses in several locations and for a having a suspended vehicle registration due to an insurance lapse. Charges are anticipated at the conclusion of the investigation, DuMond said.

The investigation includes waiting for results of a blood test for drugs and/or alcohol, which could take two to four weeks, something that is standard in this situation, DuMond said. He said he did not want to comment further on that aspect of the case.

The accident occurred, deputies said, when the vehicle Alves was driving west at about 4:40 p.m. on state Route 206, outside the village of Walton crossed over the center line. It struck the vehicle being driven by Thompson, head-on. The passengers in Thompson's vehicle were both transported to Delaware Valley Hospital in Walton. His wife, Wendy Hoeben, 43, was treated and released, but their 6-year-old son, whose name was not released, was transferred to Westchester Medical Center for further treatment. His injuries were not believed to be life threatening, DuMond said.

As a result of the crash, state Route 206 was shut down for several hours, while state police accident collision reconstruction experts investigated the accident.

Also assisting deputies at the scene were members of the Colchester police, New York City Department of Environmental Protection police, Walton and Downsville fire and emergency squads and Cooperstown Medical Transport.

Mark Boshnack can be reached at [email protected] or (607) 432-1000 ext. 218. Also follow him at Twitter at @DS_MarkB.

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