October 5, 2026 - DWI Arrest

Published on October 05, 2026

On October 5th 2026, at approximately 7:10 p.m., deputies from the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office responded to the intersection of Shelter Valley Road and West Danby Road in the Town of Newfield for a report of a white Hyundai in a ditch.

While deputies were enroute, Tompkins County Dispatch advised responding units that, according to a bystander, the driver was attempting to remove the vehicle from the ditch.

Upon arrival, deputies made contact with the driver, identified as Sara Hayward, 34, of Newfield, New York. While speaking with Hayward, deputies observed signs of impairment. Following further investigation, Hayward was arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI).

During the investigation, deputies also discovered that the vehicle was displaying switched license plates and was neither registered nor insured.

Hayward was transported to the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office for further processing and was charged with the following offenses:

Driving While Intoxicated
Driving While Intoxicated with a blood alcohol content (BAC) greater than 0.08%
Driving While Intoxicated with a BAC greater than 0.18%
Switched Plates
Unregistered Motor Vehicle
Uninsured Motor Vehicle

Hayward was processed on the charges and issued an appearance ticket. She is scheduled to appear in the Town of Newfield Court at a later date to answer the charges.