Water balloons, critical condition

5/6/2009

A Cobleskill man was seriously injured Sunday afternoon when he struck a telephone pole while allegedly partially hanging out the window of a moving car throwing water balloons.
The driver of the vehicle was ticketed for reckless driving, said the Cobleskill Village Police.
The Cobleskill Police received a 911 call at about 5:17pm Sunday reporting an accident on Elm Street near the intersection of Washington Avenue.
Upon arriving at the scene, Officers determined that Calvin Dancler, 22, of Cobleskill was driving a 1999 Dodge Straus in a reckless manner, police said. A front seat passenger, Ryan Daly, 23, apparently was partially hanging out the passenger side window of the vehicle as it was heading west on Elm Street when the car passed too close to the curb and struck a utility pole, police said. Daly, who was still hanging out the window, was also struck by the pole.
Witnesses confirmed that Mr. Daly was throwing water balloons from the moving vehicle at the time of the accident, police said. Minor damage to the passenger side of the car was also noted by police.
Mr. Daly was seriously injured and was taken by Med-Flight to Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown for treatment, police said.
Mr. Dancler was ticketed and is to appear in Cobleskill Village Court on May 19, according to police.
An investigation into the accident is continuing with the assistance from the Schoharie County District Attorney’s office and further action may be taken when the findings are complete, police said.