Police: Hudson Valley Man Steals Truck, Runs Over Pedestrian, Totals Two Cars, Crashes Into Store

A Saugerties man led New Paltz police on a wild chase in a stolen truck. During the chase, 24-year-old Christopher Rega ran over a pedestrian, totaled two parked cars, and crashed into a store.

The Times Herald Record reports it happened near 10PM on Saturday in New Paltz. Local police recognized a Ford F-350 Pickup Truck that matched the description of a stolen vehicle.

Rega took off in the truck once he noticed a police car following him. During the chase the Saugerties resident ran over a pedestrian’s foot and a motorcycle had to slide out of the way to evade being hit. Neither of the injuries were life threatening.

Rega later crashed into a BMW and a Toyota that were sitting in the parking lot of Beek’s Auto in Gardiner. Both vehicles were totaled. Moments later the 24 year-old drove into the Eastern Mountain Sports store. The stolen truck made it halfway through the store, according to the report. However the wild chase wasn’t over, as Rega attempted to flee the scene but was tasered by police.

For his wild chase, Christopher Rega received a collector’s item of charges. Two counts of 1^st-degree reckless endangerment and one count of 3^rd-degree criminal possession of stolen property, all felonies. A misdemeanor charge for 7^th-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, plus resisting arrest, driving on drugs, unlawfully fleeing a police officer, and unlicensed operation.

Rega was charged in Gardiner court and sent to Ulster County Jail on $100,000 cash bail.