A Schenectady man is in police custody after he allegedly struck a bicyclist and led police on a pursuit that spanned five cities and two counties.

Around 12:50 Saturday morning police say they saw a truck driven by 39-year-old Pablo Cruz speeding down Central Ave in Colonie. When the cruiser turned on its lights, they say Cruz attempted to escape into Albany where he allegedly struck a man who police now identify as 45-year old Paul Merges of Albany.

Police continued the chase into Colonie, through Niskayuna and Schenectady. Eventually the truck stopped on Curry Road in Rotterdam. Merges was pinned to the ladder rack of the '97 Chevy for the duration of the chase, and was killed.

Cruz is charged with vehicular manslaughter, DWI and violating parole. He was released from State Prison earlier this month.

The Albany County Sheriff's Office says Merges leaves behind several local family members.

That guy needs to get the max on all counts, ran consecutively.
He should be charged with depraved indifference as well, because I can't think of a more suitable description of his actions.

I wish these idiots would learn. When you're caught, you're caught. Deal with it instead of turning a misdemeanor into multiple felonies.
You're NOT going to outrun them. Not even the space shuttle can't outrun a radio wave, and you're only making it worse, because there IS going to be another cop, or roadblock, waiting for you.

There have been so many people hurt, and killed, because some idiot was afraid to get popped for a DWI, or an expired license.

So he was on parole. Big deal. Getting a DWI would've probably just sent him back to prison for another year or so to serve out the rest of his sentence, plus a few months. You would think he would know that by now.

I can only hope, that when this boil on the a$$ of society finally dies, that rather than put him IN the hearse, they play "Mitt Romney's Dog" with him.

They say prison just educates criminals about how to be better criminals, but apparently, this guy didn't learn a damned thing.

this guy should be put away for life.

the guy on the bike : (   Hope he went instantly : (

As for the DUI he couldn't have been that drunk to drive all that way he had to have known he hit the guy on the bike.

And to drive all that way with him stuck on the truck.

This halfwit driver again has proven that there's no cure for stupid.

Quoted from Tommy

That guy needs to get the max on all counts, ran consecutively.
He should be charged with depraved indifference as well, because I can't think of a more suitable description of his actions.

I wish these idiots would learn. When you're caught, you're caught. Deal with it instead of turning a misdemeanor into multiple felonies.
You're NOT going to outrun them. Not even the space shuttle can't outrun a radio wave, and you're only making it worse, because there IS going to be another cop, or roadblock, waiting for you.

There have been so many people hurt, and killed, because some idiot was afraid to get popped for a DWI, or an expired license.

So he was on parole. Big deal. Getting a DWI would've probably just sent him back to prison for another year or so to serve out the rest of his sentence, plus a few months. You would think he would know that by now.

I can only hope, that when this boil on the a$$ of society finally dies, that rather than put him IN the hearse, they play "Mitt Romney's Dog" with him.

They say prison just educates criminals about how to be better criminals, but apparently, this guy didn't learn a damned thing.

dealing drugs taught him values........just look at the drug commercials on TV.....that's why he served a 2 year
sentence....he was providing a good ole American service

Quoted Text

Cruz is charged with vehicular manslaughter, DWI and violating parole. He was released from State Prison earlier this month.

Maybe I missed it somewhere in the postings, but does anyone know why he was in state prison to begin with?

Quoted from bumblethru

Maybe I missed it somewhere in the postings, but does anyone know why he was in state prison to begin with?

dealing controlled substance....probably medically controlled substances.....we are a drug loving country...he was just
filling a need....

Such a horrible ending to a life! My heart hurts for this man's family.

As for the driver - I have no pity for this complete and utter waste to society. His actions are deplorablre and I hope he rots in hell.

Quoted from Tommy

That guy needs to get the max on all counts, ran consecutively.
He should be charged with depraved indifference as well, because I can't think of a more suitable description of his actions.

I wish these idiots would learn. When you're caught, you're caught. Deal with it instead of turning a misdemeanor into multiple felonies.
You're NOT going to outrun them. Not even the space shuttle can't outrun a radio wave, and you're only making it worse, because there IS going to be another cop, or roadblock, waiting for you.

There have been so many people hurt, and killed, because some idiot was afraid to get popped for a DWI, or an expired license.

So he was on parole. Big deal. Getting a DWI would've probably just sent him back to prison for another year or so to serve out the rest of his sentence, plus a few months. You would think he would know that by now.

I can only hope, that when this boil on the a$$ of society finally dies, that rather than put him IN the hearse, they play "Mitt Romney's Dog" with him.

They say prison just educates criminals about how to be better criminals, but apparently, this guy didn't learn a damned thing.

You want to give him the max?

It's not his fault the truck he was driving had ladder racks.

Oh and Mitt's dog was unharmed, unlike the one Obama ate.

this guy looks soooooooo skanknecktitty

Quoted Text

There have been so many people hurt, and killed, because some idiot was afraid to get popped for a DWI, or an expired license.

So he was on parole. Big deal. Getting a DWI would've probably just sent him back to prison for another year or so to serve out the rest of his sentence, plus a few months. You would think he would know that by now.

the guy could have had 2 beers and the substance he was selling to get him to prison in the first place is promoted in TV commercials
and college kids take a lot of same said street drugs to 'concentrate',,,,the only difference is we have given value to ADHD drugs
without investigating our food supply...shame on us...lazy we are.....

just because one is a doctor doesn't make them gods....but I will tell you that because one is a conglomerate farmer with
biotech foods for the masses DOES make them god.....

so this guy is just following what we already accept when packaged all nice nice......with some semblance of IP protection to
keep us on that F'EN hamster wheel

but when the prez smoked pot it was all fun and laughs! haha

Quoted from GrahamBonnet

but when the prez smoked pot it was all fun and laughs! haha

TRUTH....

I say....WHERE THE f IS MINE....without the drug testing

talked to one of the first responders................when this first responder arrived.....he had to walk away for a while!! Said they believed the victim didn't die on impact. HORRIBLE.

some of the comments are so Rotterdam.....no compassion.....but trying to have some humor in all of this????  horrible ...

Life is so precious and should be treated as so ....

Condolences to the family of this man....may he rest in peace  in a better place...