After Many Breaks, Drugged Driver Critically Hospitalizes Pedestrian

LIVONIA – A Geneseo man who has consistently found himself on the wrong side of the law in the past three years is now charged with driving drugged and striking a pedestrian, causing life-threatening injuries.

According to a press release from Sheriff Thomas Dougherty, Gregory Walsh, 24, was arrested for felony Aggravated Vehicular Assault, Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, and vehicle and traffic law infractions. He is currently serving a probation sentence for twice violating his probation by drinking alcohol after attacking his father with a loaded shotgun in 2013.

“The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over expecting a different result, and in some ways that’s what we’re doing in this case, allowing you to stay on probation,” said Judge Robert Wiggins at sentencing on the violation of probation in January 2016.

On May 20 at 10:45 p.m., Walsh called the Livingston County Emergency Communications Center reporting that a pedestrian had been struck on Bronson Hill Road.

Walsh was on scene when Deputies arrived. They suspected that Walsh may have been operating the vehicle in an impaired state, so Deputy Brandan Flickner of the Sheriff’s Office STOP DWI Unit, a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE), responded to the scene. Flickner ultimately gave his opinion as an expert that Walsh was impaired and could not operate a vehicle safely.

Walsh requested to be transported to the hospital to be checked. The Deputy followed the ambulance to Strong Hospital for Walsh’s medical evaluation. Walsh refused to allow Deputies to draw his blood to determine what was in his system, but a warrant was signed by Judge Robert Wiggins gave Deputies permission to get Walsh’s blood from the hospital. Upon his release, Deputies took him into custody.

The individual who was struck, Russell Maurer, 60, resides on Bronson Hill Road. His injuries continue to threaten his life. Strong Memorial Hospital says that he is currently in guarded, or critical, condition.

Walsh was turned over to Central Booking at the Livingston County Jail for processing and to be held for arraignment.

Walsh was arraigned on May 21 in Geneseo Town Court as no Livonia Judge was available. Justice Kathleen Houston arraigned him and ordered him held at the Livingston County Jail on $20,000 cash or $40,000 bond, at the recommendation of District Attorney Greg McCaffrey. Walsh is being held at the Livingston County Jail.

On scene investigating for the Sheriff’s Office was Deputy Matthew Thomas, Deputy Brandon Flickner, Deputy Ron Wall, Sergeant Matt Orman, Forensic Identification Unit (FIU) members Sergeant Chad VanAuken and Deputy Caleb Cutting for accident reconstruction, Investigator Brad Schneider, Captain Norm Zeh, Captain Brian Applin and Sheriff Thomas Dougherty.