Towns crashed his car in Westchester County and failed a subsequent field sobriety test. The former Assemblyman was appointed housing commissioner in February by Governor Andrew Cuomo, who was notified of the accident by Towns on the day it occurred, according to The Times.

The accident and arrest come as the Towns family is trying to maintain its influence in Brooklyn politics.

The family is engaged in a fierce contest to keep Darryl's vacated Assembly seat in the family. His sister, Deidra Towns, is mired in a three-way race against candidates backed by Brooklyn Democratic Chairman Vito Lopez and Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, respectively.

That race is seen as a test of strength for Darryl's father, Congressman Ed Towns, who has represented his district for nearly three decades, but so far has just $50,000 on hand for his next re-election, and could face a primary challenge.