AG: No charges after 2025 fatal crash investigation in Colonie

COLONIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Attorney General's Office of Special Investigation (OSI) released its findings for the fatal pedestrian crash investigation in the 2025 death of John Bonds. The report determined that criminal charges would not be warranted against the involved driver, Jason Tusch. On May 27, 2025, just after 10:10 p.m., Tusch, an officer with the Colonie Police Department who was off-duty at the time, struck 65-year-old John Bonds while driving his personal Honda Accord southbound on Old Loudon Road in Latham. OSI's report found that Bonds was walking with his back to traffic in the road's southbound lane while pushing a shopping cart and wearing non-reflective clothing. The collision also occurred in a dark portion of the road between two streetlights, according to OSI. Investigators revealed that Tusch requested help from a passing motorist to call emergency services to the scene following the crash, and that he attempted life-saving measures on Bonds while waiting for responders to arrive. Bonds was taken to Albany Medical Center where he died from his injuries on June 2, 2025. OSI said that State Police conducted three field sobriety tests on Tusch at the time, which he passed. A breathalyzer test administered later at the NYSP barracks in Latham yielded a blood alcohol content of 0.02% for Tusch. The Attorney General's Office's resulting investigation found that while Tusch had alcohol in his system, there wasn't enough evidence to prove he was intoxicated beyond the legal limit. Detectives also said there was no evidence that Tusch was speeding or driving dangerously at the time of the incident. OSI's report concluded that a prosecutor wouldn't be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Tusch had committed a crime such as vehicular manslaughter or criminally negligent homicide if brought to trial.