A family enjoying a gathering on South Main Street, Batavia had their evening spoiled by an alleged drunken driver who rammed into one family member's car and, according to witnesses, came darn close to killing another family member.

The incident occurred around 6:40 p.m.

The alleged drunken driver was westbound on South Main when his truck veered to the opposite side of the road and struck a parked car, badly damaging it.

About 50 members of Mark Fanara's family were in a tent at the side of his father's house on South Main when they heard the boom, Fanara said. They all rushed to the street and Fanara said he saw a truck rolling away from the car that was hit.

Then the driver hit the gas, he said, even though a front tire was completely bent to the side.

Fanara's aunt's car was parked behind the car that was struck. She had just gone to her car to get some money out of her purse and was at the driver's side door, bent over, at the time of the accident.

"If that car wasn't there (the one that was hit) he very easily could have struck my aunt," Fanara said. "It had to be only feet from here."

Fanara's brother -- it was his wife's car that was hit -- jumped in his car and followed the suspect vehicle on Dewey, through Birchwood, over to the car wash on South Pearl, where the driver parked his truck and began ditching items in his car. He also tried removing the license plates from his truck. He put on a sweatshirt with a hoodie.

When police arrived, he tried to flee on foot, but didn't get far.

Taken into custody was Bradley Howard, 23, of Mayville. He was charged with DWI, aggravated unlicensed operation and unlawful possession of a hypodermic instrument, said Officer Chad Richards, along with 10 other charges.

A woman was in the truck at the time of the accident and she returned to the scene and gave officers a statement, Richards said.

Howard has a job locally, which is apparently why he was in Batavia, Richards said.

Among the items Howard allegedly discarded was a hypodermic needle, but no other contraband was recovered, Richards said.

"Several people were right there and called it right in," Richards said. "We had an overabundant number of witnesses, so it was easy to locate the subject."

The following people were arrested by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office during the Luke Bryan concert at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on Saturday:

David P. Mayne, 28, of James Street, Medina, for is charged with disorderly conduct, harassment, 2nd, and resisting arrest after allegedly being involved in a physical altercation inside the concert venue after grabbing a acquaintance by the throat and punching her in the face. Mayne then allegedly resisted arrest. Mayne was arraigned in Darien Court and remanded to jail in lieu of $500 bail.

Michael R. J. Fiumano, 20, of Glenn Avenue, Pulaski, is charged with harassment, 2nd, after he allegedly punched and pushed a Live Nation Security Officer.

Kassidy R. Watson, 19, of Lake Avenue, Hilton, is charged with tampering with physical evidence and unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana and then attempted to conceal the evidence in her shirt.

Ariana M. Watson, 20, of Lighthouse Road, Hilton, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana.

Mark A. Buldyke, 22, of Amber Court, Port Perry, Ontario, Canada, is charged with trespass after allegedly jumping a fence into the venue.

Kirstia M. Dlugosz, 19, of South Prince Drive, Depew, is charged with trespass after allegedly reenentering the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Stephen J. Hayes, 24, of Saya Road, Weedsport, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd, after allegedly jumping a fence onto the Darien Lake property.

Corey J. Hinman, 25, of Ryan Road, Weedsport, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd, after allegedly jumping a fence onto Darien Lake property.

Jacob R. Andol, 19, of East Blood Road, Cowlesville, is charged with disorderly conduct after allegedly causing a disturbance in the medical tent inside the venue.

Lucas R. Logsdon, 19, of Dunkley Road, Leicester, is charged with disorderly conduct after allegedly fighting inside the concert venue.

Trey G. Henderson, 22, of Terry Hills Drive, Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct after allegedly fighting with concert security while being ejected from the venue.

Samuel A. Musolino II, 23, of Hyde Park, Niagara Falls, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd, after allegedly jumping a fence into the concert venue.

(Name Redacted), 23, of Hillpine Road, Cheektowaga, is charged with trespass after allegedly reentering the concert venue after being ejected and told on to return. (The person arrested was apparently using the ID of another individual, so the name has been redacted).

Jordan M. Coulson, 23, of McMurchy Avenue, South Brampton, Ontario, Canada, is charged with trespass after allegedly jumping a fence on Employee Road into the back area.

Danielle B. Russell, 19, of Floren Tine Way, Chili, is charged with trespass after allegedly reentering the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Matthew H. Coe, 22, of Route 62, Frewsburg, is charged with trespass after allegedly jumping a fence into the concert venue.

Ryan M. Hanes, 25, of Cleveland Drive, Cheektowaga, is charged with disorderly conduct after allegedly fighting with Live Nation Security.

David D. Carpes, 27, of Nelson Road, Clyde, is charged with harassment, 2nd, after allegedly pushing a Live Nation Security Officer.

Bryan T. Mogle, 23, of Englewood Avenue, Buffalo, is charged with trespass after allegedly reentering the concert venue after being ejected and told not to return.

Gabrielle L. Frey, 20, of Boyce Road, Corfu, is charged with disorderly conduct after allegedly causing a disturbance on Sumner Road.

The following people were issued tickets for alleged possession of a fictious license:

Madeline L. Bissell, 19, of East Aurora
Michael A. Marcucci, 19, of Spencerport
Jon M. Tokar, 19, of Big Flats
Emily E. Shapiro, 19 of Buffalo
Anthony Martusciello, 20, of Spencerport

The following people were issued tickets for alleged possession of another person's license:

Eileen L. Argona, 19 of Niagara Falls
Franjo B. Tabar, 20, of Buffalo
William A. Sanchez, 29, of Spring Valley
Jordan Brandwood, 21, of Beemsville, Ontario, Canada

Saturday evening was the 2nd Annual Light the Knight 5K at Le Roy High School. There was a big turnout for the fundraiser, with the proceeds this year going to the Deputy Frank Bordonaro family.

Connor Hayward had the best 5K time at 18:08. The top female was Anna Warner at 22:00.

It was more like Autumn in the City than Summer in the City, but that didn't stop people from coming out, having a good time and enjoying the sights, sounds and tastes of Batavia's premier summer event.

Terry Buchwald as Elvis was as entertaining as ever and the classic cars still managed to shine.

We didn't have a winner in our $100 T-shirt giveaway, but I did hand out five Dave's Ice Cream gift cards to fans of The Batavian.

Here's something I didn't know until a couple of days ago: Daily News photographer Mark Gutman restores classic VW buses. He had one of his buses (from 1960) at the car cruise yesterday.

To purchase prints, click here.

Tonight’s Muckdogs game was sponsored by Kiwanis Club of Batavia and numerous events during the game were recognized. In 2011, Kiwanis Club of Batavia lost their location to hold their annual “Pancake Days” but since then Ken Dudek (center), manager of Countryside Travel Centers of America, received an appreciation plaque from President Pat Corona of Kiwanis (left) and organizer of the event at the ballpark, Anita Strollo (pictured far right). Dudek has generously donated all supplies for this event since then and the club honored him this evening.

The first pitch was thrown out by Pat Corona and followed by the first pitch was an ALS challenge Anita Strollo had to fulfill. She challenged Travis Sick, Eric Geitner, Dr. Antoinette Cecere, Ken Dudek and Serena Strollo-Dicenso. The ice bucket was thrown by Joe Forsyth and Pat Corona.

Bottom of the 4th inning Kiwanis announced two lucky winners of their annual children’s bike giveaway. The lucky girl was Madison Williams, age 6, and lucky boy was Matthew Covert, age 7.  Kiwanis Club members from left, pictured is Anita Strollo, Theresa Asmus-Roth, Michael Rimmer and Pat Corona.

All proceeds of Kiwanis Club benefits children's projects in Genesee County such as Thanksgiving Day Skate, Kiwanis Night at the Ballpark, Easter Egghunt, to name a few. This year’s Pancake Days will be on Saturday Oct. 25^th at the ARC Community Center on Woodrow Road behind Notre Dame High School.

Batavia lost to Jamestown tonight 4-3. Their next home game is next Friday night, Aug. 22, vs Mahoning Valley, 7:05 p.m. where they will try to set a new attendance record as previously mentioned on The Batavian.

When Baxter speaks he doesn't just say "woof." He says, "I love you." That made him Genesee County's Top Dog in the first-ever video dog trick contest sponsored by The Batavian and WBTA.

Baxter is owned by Joyce Zaremski

Here's Baxter's winning video.

Photographer Steve Ognibene submitted these photos from this morning's Don Carroll 5K Run/Fun Walk.

Today, Frost Ridge hosts its annual fundraiser for the Le Roy Fire Department. 

The event goes until 4:30 p.m.

Just now, they're setting up dual water slides.

The ladder truck rides, however, are over.

There's a basket raffle and food.

Fourty-eight golfers turned out today at the Le Roy Country Club for the 2nd Annual Andrea Lynn Mangefrida Memorial Fund Golf Tournament to benefit Stepping Stones Learning Center. 

Stepping Stones is a center for children with autism.

Andrea Lynn Mangefrida was 3 years old when she drowned in a swimming pool mishap in 2011.

Following the tournament, there will be a basket raffle and dinner with as many as 150 people attending.

Above, Jason Saile, James Sheflin, Darryl Streeter and Mike Sheflin, who are looking to defend their title from last year.

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) is warning his constituents of an emerging scam being perpetrated on customers of New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E).

The scam involves a person claiming to be a NYSEG or RG&E representative calling customers and threatening them with service cancellation unless they buy a "Green Dot MoneyPak Card."

Once purchased, the scammer uses the card.

“Customers of NYSEG and RG&E need to be on guard for scammers soliciting the Green Dot MoneyPak Card. If you get one of these calls, do not buy the card and contact the Federal Trade Commission and your local police to let them know the issue,” Hawley said.

“If you have fallen victim to the scheme, you may be able to get your money back by contacting Green Dot MoneyPak and deactivating the card before the scammer uses it.”

Scam victims who want to get their money back can do so by going to https://www.moneypak.com/Help.aspx and clicking “I would like a refund of my MoneyPak.” However, this will not work if the scammer has already spent your money.

Press release:

On Friday, Aug. 22, the Batavia Muckdogs need your help in breaking Dwyer Stadium’s 75-year-old attendance record.

When baseball came to Batavia in 1939, 3,000 fans attended the first game at what was known at the time as State Street Park. If the record is broken next Friday, when the Muckdogs face Mahoning Valley at 7:05, one lucky fan could win $3,001!

Gates open at 6 p.m.

Fans must register for the drawing that night at the ballpark but no purchase is necessary. All Muckdogs’ season ticket holders are automatically eligible to win. Friday, Aug. 22nd, will also be the last post-game fireworks show of the 2014 season.

Tickets for Friday’s game can be purchased at the Dwyer Stadium Box Office or over the phone by calling (585) 343-5454. Normal box office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday -- Friday. Only eight home games remain for the 2014 season, including the Muckdogs next home game tonight, Aug. 16, at 7:05 vs Jamestown.

A two-car accident, unknown injuries, is reported on the westbound Thruway at mile marker 399.1. East Pembroke fire and Mercy medics are responding.

A possible residential structure fire is reported at 8 Farnsworth Ave., Oakfield. The home is filled with smoke. Oakfield command on scene reporting nothing showing. Alabama fire is asked to stand by in quarters in case needed.

UPDATE 11:21 a.m.: Command tells the crew headed to the scene to check out the basement, which smells like smoke.

UPDATE 12:34 p.m.: The problem was a "burnt cooler motor." Responders are back in service.

Police responded to a report about 20 minutes ago of fighting on Jackson Street. Police Sgt. Chris Camp told Howard at the scene that two teens met there to fight over something posted on Facebook and they brought some backup and some others also showed up. The initial caller said about 20 youths were involved, but Camp said the total "was nothing like that."

Although one person was handcuffed at some point, no one is believed to have been arrested. The fracas has broken up and police are back in service.

CORRECTION: South Jackson, not Jackson.

Preperations are under way for tomorrows Summer in the City in Downtown Batavia.

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and includes live music, food, vendors and classic cars.

Come on out, have some fun, and wear your T-shirt from The Batavian.

Photographer Amanda Earl captured some shots late this afternoon of the BID's Don Burkel, Laurie Oltramari and Jeff Gillard as they marked off vendor booth space on Main Street.

Photographer Amanda Earl hung out with Brian Kemp at T-Shirts Etc. today for a bit while he made T-shirts for tomorrow's Don Carroll 5K run and walk.

Press release:

Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) today announced $135,000 in federal funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for Genesee County Airport. Specifically, the grant will fund the design phase to remove obstructions in a portion of the airport’s runway.

“Supporting local governments with the cost of maintaining, repairing and building critical infrastructure is an appropriate use of federal tax dollars,” Congressman Collins said. “Local taxpayers send too much of their hard-earned money to Washington, and it is only proper that we get a share of it back to assist with projects that are important to our local communities.”

The Congressman’s office remains available to assist any local governments pursuing a federal grant.

Pulled into my driveway this afternoon and saw a flash of yellow dancing through my sunflowers. There were two yellow birds -- finches, I think, eating seeds. I managed to get a photo of one before they took flight.

City firefighters were on the hill of South Jackson Street, near the railroad tracks, this morning for training with rope rescue techniques.

A person fell from a vehicle and suffered a head injury at DeWitt Recreation Area on Cedar Street. Mercy medics are responding.