“I fully recognize the severity of the situation and I am profoundly sorry,” Kolb said in a statement. “There is no excuse and no justification for what occurred Tuesday evening. I made the wrong decision, and it is one I deeply regret.”
A driver passing by reported the crashed SUV and a deputy found Kolb inside it, The New York Times reported. He failed field sobriety tests and was taken to jail and given a breath test, which was over .08, the legal limit, WHEC reported. The exact number was not released.
He was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and making an unsafe turn and later released, WHEC reported.
No one was injured in the accident.
Kolb, who has been re-elected nine times, has spent 20 years in the assembly representing a portion of Seneca County, the Times reported.
In the past, he has pushed legislation to tighten the laws against drinking and driving with children as passengers.
On Christmas Eve, Kolb had a column published in the Daily Messenger that warned against the dangers of drinking and driving during the holidays.
"Many of our holiday traditions, especially our New Year's Eve celebrations, involve indulging in spirits," he wrote. "Done safely, and in moderation, these can be wonderful holiday experiences. However, tragedy can be only one bad decision away."
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