Utica police department vehicle - file photo — Utica Police Department vehicle - File Photo

UTICA, N.Y. — A two-vehicle crash on Route 5S early Saturday left one woman seriously injured, while the driver of the other vehicle was arrested for driving under the influence, authorities said.

Utica police and fire units responded to the westbound lanes between the Turner Street and Culver Avenue exits at approximately 5:45 a.m. Officers arrived to find both vehicles heavily damaged and blocking all lanes of traffic.

One vehicle, a silver Mercedes, sustained severe front-end damage, while the second, a tan Chevrolet, had both front and rear damage. The Chevrolet’s driver was unresponsive and was immediately transported to Wynn Hospital for treatment.

Police observed the occupants of the Mercedes discarding cans of alcoholic beverages over a guardrail. Both individuals were detained until investigators identified the driver.

Authorities determined that both vehicles were traveling westbound when the Mercedes struck the Chevrolet at a high speed, pushing it into a guardrail.

The driver of the Chevrolet, a woman, remains in serious but stable condition.

The Mercedes driver, identified as 23-year-old Vladyslav Marynych of Utica, was taken to the Utica Police Department, where officers attempted to administer Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. After the investigation, police determined he was under the influence of alcohol and charged him accordingly.

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