'Impaired' Driver Narrowly Missed Mother and Baby

A Sag Harbor driver who police said just missed hitting three pedestrians on Ocean Avenue in East Hampton Village, including a mother and her 6-month-old baby, was arrested Wednesday and charged with reckless driving and driving with ability impaired by drugs.

The mother, Zoe Wilson, who lives in the village, told police she was jogging with her baby toward Main Beach when she first noticed the Jeep Wranger, which Scott W. Smith, 38, of Sag Harbor was driving "very slowly." He looked "a bit lost," she said.

After reaching the beach, she was jogging back up the sidewalk on Ocean Avenue when she saw the Jeep again, this time parked on the grass near a big white house.

There was an older woman walking on the sidewalk near the vehicle. "All of the sudden, the Jeep began to move slowly, over the sidewalk and into a lamppost," she told police. "I jumped off of the sidewalk with the stroller to avoid being hit," she said. "The older woman also jumped out of the way. If I didn't jump out of the way, the Jeep would have hit us."

Police said Mr. Smith also mowed over a speed-limit sign. After striking the light pole, Mr. Smith put his vehicle into reverse and drove away.

He was found about a block or so away on Lee Avenue. The 2010 Jeep, police said, was in the road, and Mr. Smith was behind the wheel slumped over and unconscious. In his right hand was a can of Dust Destroyer, a compressed air product that is used to clean computers. Known as "duster," it results in a sort of high when inhaled. It is considered highly toxic if used improperly.

According to the officer who found the Jeep, when Mr. Smith came to, he was asked to roll down his window, but was unable to do so.

After several minutes, he told the officer he was coming back from the Bridgehampton Commons, and was headed to Sag Harbor. He also allegedly said that he had taken two prescription drugs, buspirone and Lexapro, both controlled substances.

Placed under arrest, he was taken to police headquarters on Cedar Street, where he consented to have blood drawn. The sample was sent to the Suffolk County Crime Lab for analysis.

Besides the misdemeanor charges, Mr. Smith is also charged with leaving the scene of an accident and failing to maintain his proper lane.

Held overnight, he was arraigned in East Hampton Town Justice Court on Thursday and was released after posting $1,000 bail.