Woman who crashed dead man's car faces charges

COLONIE - A woman who was caught driving a dead man's car when she led police on a two-county chase that ended when she crashed Monday in Ballston is unlikely to face charges in connection with the man's death, police said.

Briana Slurff told investigators the 50-year-old man was alive when she left him, Colonie police Lt. Robert Winn said

The man's death is not suspicious, Winn said.  Slurff will not be charged even if autopsy results show she was likely at the motel room when he died, the police said.

But Slurff, 33, of Delanson, faces a slew of charges in connection with the 15-mile chase, including vehicular assault, possession of stolen property, misdemeanor drug possession and several vehicle and traffic offenses, State Police said.

On Sunday, Slurff and the man checked into the Lawrence Motel on Central Avenue, police said. The next morning, the man, whose identity has not been released, was found dead by the motel cleaning crew, Winn said.

Police were called to the motel and spotted Slurff on video with the man. His car was missing from the lot and police told surrounding departments that they wanted to talk to the driver.

At 5:57 p.m. Monday, the dead man's 2002 Toyota was involved in a hit-and-run  that left a pedestrian with a leg injury in Schenectady. City police and state troopers went after the car.

The chase winded through Scotia, Glenville and southern Saratoga County before the Toyota hit two  vehicles at the intersection of Route 50 and Brookline Road.

Slurff was treated for cuts to her face and knees.

Slurff told Colonie police the dead man gave her the vehicle but state troopers charged her with possessing a stolen car

The driver of one of the cars the Toyota crashed into needed medical treatment, troopers said. The driver and passenger in the other car were not hurt.

Arraigned in Malta Town Court, Slurff was sent to the Saratoga County Jail on $50,000 bail.