In the early hours of June 1, 2025, a serious incident unfolded on East Seneca Turnpike in the City of Syracuse. At approximately 2:41 a.m., a marked New York State Police vehicle was traveling near the intersection of South Salina Street when Troopers observed a grey Jeep SUV fail to stop at a red light and make a right turn onto East Seneca Turnpike. The SUV then crossed the double-solid line, veering directly into the path of the State Police vehicle. Troopers were forced to take evasive action to avoid a collision.
Following the near-miss, Troopers conducted a traffic stop on the Jeep. The driver was identified as Odell L. Tillie Jr., age 30, of Syracuse, NY. During the stop, Troopers noted signs of intoxication and administered standardized field sobriety tests, which Tillie failed. He was subsequently arrested and transported to SP Lafayette, where he provided a breath sample resulting in a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.17%—more than twice the legal limit.
Tillie was charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) and several traffic violations. He was released with appearance tickets and is scheduled to appear in Syracuse City Court at a later date. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident, but the quick response by State Police likely prevented a serious accident.
For more details, see the official New York State Police release: Vehicle nearly Strikes State Police Car in Syracuse, Operator Arrested for DWI and local coverage from CNY Central.
