Warren County officials talk roadwork safety after alleged assault

LAKE LUZERNE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -The Warren County Department of Public Works is working on East River Drive this summer. Last Tuesday, there was a stretch of the road where only one lane was open because of paving.

“There was an individual who apparently became a little impatient when the traffic was stopped and he allegedly got a little upset with the workers there,” said Don Lehman, Director of Public Affairs for Warren County.

26-year-old Michael Sutliff is accused of swerving at a DPW worker with his truck, getting out and punching the worker in the head. “Thankfully the guy had a helmet on so it didn’t hurt him but the gentleman, after a little bit of discussion, this person left,” described Lehman.

The Warren County Sheriff’s Office was called and charged Sutliff with reckless endangerment, harassment, failing to obey a traffic control device and reckless driving.

“All to save what? Five, ten seconds at a construction zone? He’s gonna have to hire a lawyer, he’s gonna have to deal with all this drama because allegedly he didn’t keep his cool at a construction zone.”

A detour is set up with signage. Lehman is asking drivers to follow it and the speed limit. “But people are trying to cut corners through neighborhoods to beat the detour to save themselves five seconds, seven seconds. I mean, you’re driving fast through some of these neighborhoods when the detour is set up on roads that can handle it.”