NORWALK-- An apparently intoxicated Stamford man left a path of destruction on Flax Hill Road Tuesday after loosing control of his van, and he had to be Tasered by responding officers due to his unruly behavior, police said.

Scates lost control of his black SUV on Flax Hill Road as he was approaching Rowayton Avenue, police said.

He wound up striking a telephone pole, but his vehicle continued to travel, police said.

The vehicle careened off the road, driving through the front lawns of three residences and coming to a rest after smashing into the concrete staircase in front of 435 Rowayton Avenue, police said.

Police said Scates was out of the car and appeared to be agitated when officers arrived at the scene, and he walked away from the vehicle after an officer approached him.

Peter Putrimas, whose Flax Hill Road, property was damaged in the crash, said the damage from the accident extends for at least 200 yards.

He hit (the telephone pole) hard enough to break the pole in three places, he said. The guy had to be doing 70 miles per hour.

He said Scates drove onto his front lawn and damaged his mailbox, as well as two of his neighbors' mailboxes, during the crash. Putrimas said he lost electricity at 10:30 p.m. while crews worked on the power lines.

Scates eventually grabbed a lamp that was mounted on top of a stone column, and snapped the lamp off of the column, according to police.

Gripping the lamp, he cocked his arm back in a menacing manner while the officer was following him, police said.

He ran down the driveway of the home and was eventually Tasered, according to police.

James Scates, 42, was charged with reckless driving and evading responsibility. He posted on $10,000 and given a court date of Dec. 9.

He may face more charges related to driving while intoxicated when investigators serve a search warrant at Norwalk Hospital to access blood tests administered to Scates after the accident, according to police.

http://www.thehour.com/story/515380/2/man-may-have-been-intoxicated-during-crash