SILVER CREEK — A Monday morning accident in which the driver who caused the mishap left the scene has led to nine charges for a Dunkirk man.

Chautauqua County sheriff’s deputies report that around 6:30 a.m. they responded to a motor vehicle accident where a pickup truck had struck a tractor trailer at Washington Street and Central Avenue. The occupants of the vehicle responsible for the accident had fled the scene on foot prior to deputies arrival.

Once on scene deputies secured and canvassed the area. During search one male subject was located in the area who was alleged to be the operator of the motor vehicle causing the accident. The subject was identified as 41-year-old Paul Farnham.

Continuation of the search by deputies yielded the successful location of the other two occupants of the pickup truck. A subsequent investigation and interview led to Farnham’s arrest.

Farnham was charged with felony DWI, first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, unlicensed operator, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, failing to stop at a stop sign, refusal to take breath test, operating out of interlock restriction, failing to yield right of way, and inadequate brakes.

Farnham was processed for the arrest and booked into the County Jail Pending Centralized Arraignment. Farnham will answer for these charges at a later date.