Route 9 crash leads to search

By MELISSA DOWNER and SEAN TREACY, The SaratogianMALTA - A multi-car accident resulted in State Police searching nearby woods by foot and helicopter for the driver and four injured young passengers of a pickup truck believed to have caused the crash.Jason Palmieri, whose age was unavailable Sunday, has been charged with felony second-degree vehicular assault, DWI and four counts of misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child, Saratoga County District Attorney James Murphy said."We have reasonable cause to believe he was driving drunk," Murphy said.Palmieri, who is in county jail and was arraigned Sunday evening, was driving a white Ford Ranger pickup when he hit at least one other vehicle at Route 9 and Old Post Road in Malta at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday, authorities said. While nobody in the other vehicles was known to be hurt Sun day night, Murphy said there were four youths lying in the flatbed of the pick-up, all believed to be hurt by the crash. All four fled the scene."There were no seat belts. Nothing," he said. "Just where you would haul stuff."One 15-year-old girl, who was found by police, suffered a broken neck and has since been transported to Albany Medical Center. "Fortunately they were able to get her medical attention at the scene," Murphy said.Two others also were found with injuries. The fourth was still unaccounted for by press time Sunday night."They are still searching and investigating this scene," Murphy said. "We're hoping the girl going to Albany Med lives."At the scene, police were seen dumping bottles of beer found in the white pickup truck. "We are most concerned for the welfare of the people who fled. They were injured and getting them taken care of is what's important," state police investigator Andrew Warner said as the search took place.Murphy said that because at least one other car was involved in the crash, there could be further charges of vehicular assault after the investigation is complete. It was unknown Sunday night how Palmieri and his passengers were related, Murphy said. Authorities, he added, were also uncertain if there was an additional person in the passenger seat of the pickup who may have also fled.