HV men lead police in chase, accident on Route 17 at I-87: NYSP

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Two Westchester men fleeing from police Friday afternoon caused an accident on the ramp from Route 17 to the New York State Thruway.

The chase began in Sullivan County when state police in Wurtsboro received a complaint at 11:59 a.m. about a gray convertible driving slowly and erratically on Route 209 in Mamakating. A trooper spotted the car, a 2011 Mercedes Benz traveling southbound, and observed it weaving in and out of oncoming traffic, police said.

The police officer stopped the car and established the identities of the two occupants: driver Martin Gjurashaj, 45, of Yonkers, and passenger Daniel Curanovic, 27, of Tuckahoe.

Suddenly, Gjurashaj put the car in gear and sped away, police said.

It was traveling at a high rate of speed when it turned east onto Route 17. It struck a marked police car in Monroe and continued on 17, police said.

The pursuit continued and only ended at the I-87 northbound ramp when the Mercedes collided with the vehicle of an innocent bystander, police said.

Gjurashaj and Curanovic were both arrested and taken to Garnet Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries.

Gjurashi was charged with:

• DWAI medications
• Reckless endangerment 1st degree
• Unauthorized escape from a police officer in a motor vehicle
• Obstruction of government administration
• Criminal damage to property

He was taken to the Sullivan County Jail.

Curanovic was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and received a summons to appear in court at a later date, police said.