Laflin mayor accused of boasting about her office after crashes
By: Joe Holden
Updated: October 8, 2012
Laflin, Luzerne County- The mayor of the small Luzerne County borough of Laflin had some trouble behind the wheel on Saturday night. According to the police chief, Dorothy Yazurlo struck two parked cars along Laflin Road around 8:24 p.m.. Police say Yazurlo couldn't pull off onto the shoulder of the road because of a line of parked cars.
This is where accounts from investigators and eyewitnesses who contacted Eyewitness News begin to differ.
A number of people called the Eyewitness Newsroom in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday evening. They claimed an elderly woman had just smashed into two cars and attempted to flee the scene. It's alleged Yazurlo was attempting to accelerate, but her car was disabled from the crashes. They claim the mayor began to boast about her elected position.
Those who contacted Eyewitness News spoke only on the condition of anonymity. They said in coming forward, they feared reprisal from Laflin police officers if their identities were revealed. "Mary," who had been at a party along Laflin Road on Saturday night, said Yazrulo told people at least a dozen times she was mayor.
"They said where are you going, and she said I can't go. They said put your flashers on, you're in the middle of the road. Put your flashers on, and she put her windshield wipers on. And then she said, I'm the mayor of Laflin," according to an eyewitness.
Police indicated a large crowd was at the scene when officers first responded. Response records show Pittston Township officers were there first at 8:24 p.m.. Laflin officers, who it was first said were not available to respond, made it to the scene by 8:32 p.m. according to records.
Eyewitnesses said immediately following the crashes, the mayor was seen on the phone.
Chief Michael Flannagan, who said he had not yet reviewed the accident report, indicated the mayor acknowledged having a single alcoholic drink prior to the crash.
Eyewitnesses claimed only at their urging did investigators initiate a field sobriety test, which Chief Flannagan said Yazurlo passed.
People at the scene were critical of the investigation.
"They didn't ask for any witnesses. They didn't think it was odd that the first car was very far from where she finally stopped. That's because she couldn't go anymore, if you saw her tire, she couldn't go any more," said "Mary."
Yazurlo did not respond to messages left at the borough building.
But she attended a council meeting and immediately referred a reporter to the borough's solicitor.
A man who identified himself as the Laflin Borough Council president stepped in and instructed a reporter to refer questions to Sam Sanguedolce, borough solicitor.
When pressed further on why the borough solicitor would handle a private legal matter between Yazurlo and police investigators, the council president backed off and issued a no-comment to a reporter's questions.
Approached in the parking lot, the mayor denied alcohol played any factor in the crashes.
She said she swerved to avoid an oncoming car.
"And he put his high lights on, and he almost crashed into me," said Yazurlo. "So, inadvertently, I had to turn to the right, and swiped a couple of cars."
Asked is she was hurt in the crashes, Yazurlo replied, "No one was hurt. And my insurance company will take care of all the material."
When asked about the allegations she boasted about her position as mayor, Yazurlo claimed she had never mentioned who she was. She also said had never had a single accident.
On the count of boasting, eyewitnesses claimed the mayor was being less than truthful.
This is where accounts from investigators and eyewitnesses who contacted Eyewitness News begin to differ.
A number of people called the Eyewitness Newsroom in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday evening. They claimed an elderly woman had just smashed into two cars and attempted to flee the scene. It's alleged Yazurlo was attempting to accelerate, but her car was disabled from the crashes. They claim the mayor began to boast about her elected position.
Those who contacted Eyewitness News spoke only on the condition of anonymity. They said in coming forward, they feared reprisal from Laflin police officers if their identities were revealed. "Mary," who had been at a party along Laflin Road on Saturday night, said Yazrulo told people at least a dozen times she was mayor.
"They said where are you going, and she said I can't go. They said put your flashers on, you're in the middle of the road. Put your flashers on, and she put her windshield wipers on. And then she said, I'm the mayor of Laflin," according to an eyewitness.
Police indicated a large crowd was at the scene when officers first responded. Response records show Pittston Township officers were there first at 8:24 p.m.. Laflin officers, who it was first said were not available to respond, made it to the scene by 8:32 p.m. according to records.
Eyewitnesses said immediately following the crashes, the mayor was seen on the phone.
Chief Michael Flannagan, who said he had not yet reviewed the accident report, indicated the mayor acknowledged having a single alcoholic drink prior to the crash.
Eyewitnesses claimed only at their urging did investigators initiate a field sobriety test, which Chief Flannagan said Yazurlo passed.
People at the scene were critical of the investigation.
"They didn't ask for any witnesses. They didn't think it was odd that the first car was very far from where she finally stopped. That's because she couldn't go anymore, if you saw her tire, she couldn't go any more," said "Mary."
Yazurlo did not respond to messages left at the borough building.
But she attended a council meeting and immediately referred a reporter to the borough's solicitor.
A man who identified himself as the Laflin Borough Council president stepped in and instructed a reporter to refer questions to Sam Sanguedolce, borough solicitor.
When pressed further on why the borough solicitor would handle a private legal matter between Yazurlo and police investigators, the council president backed off and issued a no-comment to a reporter's questions.
Approached in the parking lot, the mayor denied alcohol played any factor in the crashes.
She said she swerved to avoid an oncoming car.
"And he put his high lights on, and he almost crashed into me," said Yazurlo. "So, inadvertently, I had to turn to the right, and swiped a couple of cars."
Asked is she was hurt in the crashes, Yazurlo replied, "No one was hurt. And my insurance company will take care of all the material."
When asked about the allegations she boasted about her position as mayor, Yazurlo claimed she had never mentioned who she was. She also said had never had a single accident.
On the count of boasting, eyewitnesses claimed the mayor was being less than truthful.
