Town of Union, NY (July 27, 2026) – A Binghamton man is facing criminal charges after New York State Police say he drove off North Street while impaired, striking a road sign and two telephone poles.
Troopers from the State Police barracks at Endwell responded to the single-vehicle crash at approximately 11:57 a.m. on July 27. An investigation determined that Stephen J. Miller, 37, of Binghamton, was driving a 2005 Scion TC on North Street when he failed to maintain his lane and left the roadway.
The vehicle’s passenger side struck a road sign before Miller’s car hit two telephone poles, troopers said. Miller declined medical treatment at the scene.
During the encounter, troopers reported observing signs consistent with impairment. Miller was asked to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, which State Police say confirmed impairment. Troopers also located suspected heroin in Miller’s possession.
Miller was arrested and charged with Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7th degree, both misdemeanors. He was processed and issued appearance tickets returnable to Union Town Court on August 4, 2026.
No one else was on that stretch of North Street when Miller’s car left the road, but the same choice, on a different day, puts someone else’s family in the path of a driver who shouldn’t be behind the wheel.
Drunk Driving Accidents in Upstate New York
A driver confirmed to be impaired by field sobriety testing is not a rare exception on Upstate New York roads, and the criminal case against that driver runs on a separate track from any civil claim a crash victim can bring.
- Who may be held liable: the impaired driver, and in some cases an establishment or third party who furnished the impairing substance
- What the criminal case does and does not resolve: a conviction or plea does not automatically compensate an injured victim, a separate civil claim does that
- What evidence matters: the toxicology and field sobriety results, the police report, and witness accounts from the scene
- Comparative fault: New York follows pure comparative fault, so a victim can recover damages even if partly at fault, reduced by their share of responsibility
Under New York law, anyone injured by an impaired driver generally has three years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury claim (CPLR § 214).
Contact Our Upstate New York Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys
Every impaired-driving crash carries the same warning: the next one may not end with just a damaged sign and two broken utility poles.
Our Upstate NY car accident lawyers represent people across Broome County and the Southern Tier who have been hurt by drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and we know how to build a civil case around toxicology results, dashcam and surveillance footage, and the police investigation before that evidence disappears.
Why Upstate New York families trust Stanley Law Offices:
- 90+ years of combined legal experience
- Joe Stanley, Board Certified in Civil Trial Practice by the American Board of Trial Advocacy
- Virtual consultations available for clients across Central New York and Northern Pennsylvania
We work on contingency, so there is no upfront cost and nothing owed unless we recover for you.
Call (888) 997-3889 to Speak With an Upstate New York Injury Attorney
If an impaired driver has hurt you or someone you love anywhere in Upstate New York, Central New York, or Northern Pennsylvania, reach out for a free, no-obligation consultation.
