The Oswego man who helped organize a massive candlelight vigil for the three men killed in a car accident earlier this week was arrested for drunken driving just hours after the vigil.

Oswego police arrested Matthew Haws around 11:55 p.m. Wednesday at East Cayuga and East Seventh streets for driving while intoxicated, operating a vehicle while using a portable electronic device and failure to use a designated lane, a police lieutenant said.

Haws told a Palladium-Times reporter at the vigil he had been drinking during the event and that all of the victims of the accident were close friends.

The vigil was organized to pay tribute to the three men who died when the vehicle they were traveling in took a turn on East Albany Street, hit a telephone pole and came to a rest at the intersection with Shampine Drive. A witness, who narrowly missed being struck by the car, said the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed when it crashed. Police said the men had all been drinking prior to the wreck.

For the complete story, pick up a copy of Friday’s edition of The Palladium-Times.

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