June 22, 2026
On June 21, 2026, at approximately 9:37 p.m., New York State Police in Stormville conducted a welfare check on a 2025 Toyota parked on the shoulder in the area of mile marker 32.3 southbound on the Taconic State Parkway, Town of Kent.
During the investigation, the operator, identified as Edgar Ismael Loja, 31, of the Bronx, New York, displayed signs of intoxication. Standardized Field Sobriety Tests were administered. Further investigation revealed that two children, ages 5 months and 1 year, were in vehicle at the time.
Loja was taken into custody and transported to SP Stormville for processing, where he submitted to a chemical breath test, resulting in a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.14%. The children were safely released to a sober third party.
As a result of the investigation, Loja was charged with:
- Two Counts Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated with a Child Passenger (Leandra's Law), class E felonies
- Driving While Intoxicated, an unclassified misdemeanor
- Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a motor vehicle 3rd, an unclassified misdemeanor
Loja was issued an appearance ticket returnable to the Town of Kent Court on August 6, 2026, at 9 a.m.
Contact Troop K Public Information Officer: Trooper Krystal P. Paolicelli
Troop K Commander:
Major Brian T. Ferrone