News

Actions

Woman found smoking cigarette during rescue

Posted
and last updated

Deputies from the Erie County (New York) Sheriff's Office responded to a crash scene in the Town of North Collins early Friday morning. 

At 4:41 a.m. local time deputies discovered a minivan partially submerged in a pond with its lights still on. The Sheriff's Office says a woman was found in the driver's seat smoking a cigarette while being rescued by personnel from the North Collins Fire Company. 

Sonya Gelster, 37 of Boston had a strong odor of alcohol on her, according to deputies. She failed multiple sobriety tests and was subsequently charged with a felony DWI, among six other charges. 

She's currently held at the Erie County Holding Center until her arraignment in North Collins Town Court. 

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Monday

05/12/2025

Cloudy

-° / 52°

4%

Tuesday

05/13/2025

Clear

72° / 51°

1%

Wednesday

05/14/2025

Clear

79° / 54°

0%

Thursday

05/15/2025

Partly Cloudy

86° / 61°

0%

Friday

05/16/2025

Partly Cloudy

88° / 59°

1%

Saturday

05/17/2025

Partly Cloudy

81° / 55°

2%

Sunday

05/18/2025

Clear

78° / 56°

1%

Monday

05/19/2025

Clear

85° / 61°

0%