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Jeffrey A. Chase Jr. of Schenectady, New York, seen here in a police photo, is accused of abandoning a car in a lane of Interstate 890 without lights on after it ran out of gas, troopers said.

(New York State Police)

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- A 31-year-old unlicensed driver remained in jail Friday after he was accused of abandoning a friend's car after it ran out of gas on an Upstate New York highway, where it was hit by a state police vehicle.



Jeffrey A. Chase Jr. was driving on Interstate 890 Tuesday night when he ran out of gas in his hometown of Schenectady.



Chase took the keys with him when he left the black Chevrolet Impala in a lane with the driver's side door open but with no hazard lights activated, police said. Troopers said he made no attempt to contact authorities or to make arrangements to remove the hazard.



A trooper on patrol rear-ended the car, damaging both vehicles. The trooper wasn't injured.



Chase was charged with reckless endangerment and issued various vehicle and traffic tickets. Troopers said he was driving without a valid driver's license, the Albany Times Union reported.

He was also wanted on a warrant from Saratoga County Family Court, police said.



Chase was arraigned in the Niskayuna Town Court. He was being held Friday in jail without bail. It couldn't be determined if he has a lawyer.