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An officer from the Scarsdale Police Department was driving north on Post Road at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 1, when a driver was spotted speeding down the roadway.
According to police, the officer caught up with the vehicle near the intersection of Popham Road and Chase Road, at which point he activated his lights and sirens. The driver, Yonkers resident Nithin Ninanmathew, 26, proceeded to speed up and took the officer on a pursuit.
Police said that Ninanmathew proceeded to accelerate and took off away from the officer, who was instructed to cease the pursuit.
The officer said that after terminating the chase, he saw the Jeep crash and slide down the road on the opposite side of Central Avenue on Ardsley Road, striking several utility poles and parked cars in the area. Numerous power lines were downed in the roadway, and the vehicle caught fire in the process of the crash.
Ninanmathew proceeded to attempt to walk away from the car, at which point he was instructed to stop, though he continued on, forcing the officer to physically sit him down as his car was fully engulfed in flames. Ninanmathew was then arrested and taken to Scarsdale Police Headquarters.
Police charged Ninanmathew with driving while intoxicated, operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content greater than .08 percent, unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, and reckless driving, all misdemeanors. He was also cited for speeding and driving on the wrong side of the road.
Following his processing, Ninanmathew was issued a ticket to appear in Scarsdale Village Court on Wednesday, Sept. 4 to respond to the charges.
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