LIVINGSTON—A Dutchess County woman died as a result of car/motorcycle collision on State Route 82, near the Bells Pond Road intersection, July 2 at 11:38 a.m.
State Police report, a husband and wife, Richard Whitford, 70, and Edna Whitford, 62, both of Dover Plains were riding a three-wheeled motorcycle and traveling south on Route 82, when they slowed to turn left onto Bells Pond Road.
When the motorcycle slowed, it was struck in the rear by a vehicle operated by David Herring of Millerton, who was also headed south. Both Mr. Whitford, who was driving, and his wife sitting behind him, were thrown off the motorcycle.
Northern Dutchess Paramedics took Mrs. Whitford to Columbia Memorial Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.
Paramedics took Mr. Whitford to St. Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie for treatment of multiple body injuries. He was listed in stable condition.
Mr. Herring was charged with numerous vehicle and traffic law violations, including following too close.
The accident remains under investigation by the State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit. Additional charges may be lodged pending completion of the investigation.
Along with State Police and Northern Dutchess Paramedics, Livingston firefighters were summoned to the scene. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the Columbia County Emergency Management Coordinator’s Office assisted.
Claverack
A 15-year-old boy, who ran away from the Berkshire Farm Center in Canaan faces numerous charges following a three-vehicle collision on State Route 23, the night of June 28.
A State Police patrol from the Livingston barracks saw a white van weaving on State Route 23 at 11:12 p.m.
The trooper activated emergency lights and siren and tried to stop the van. But the van operator accelerated and continued on State Route 23 straight through a red light, narrowly missing a vehicle in the intersection and onto Route 23B with the troopers in pursuit. After about two miles, the van went out of control, crossed the center line, struck two oncoming vehicles and rolled over.
The driver then fled on foot and was later identified as a 15-year-old runaway from Berkshire Farm. He was also wanted by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office on a juvenille delinquent warrant issued in Columbia County Family Court.
People in the two struck vehicles were hurt, but none of their injuries appear to be life threatening, according to police. Accident victims were taken to Albany Medical Center. State Police members from Troops K and Troop F, including bloodhounds, K-9 and Aviation units were assisted at the scene by Greenport firefighters, Greenport Police, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Northern Dutchess Paramedics and Hudson Police.
After an extensive search, the 15-year-old was found in his grandmother’s garage, not far from the scene, and taken into custody at 4:45 a.m. June 29. Investigation into how the boy obtained the van is ongoing. He sustained scrapes and minor cuts as a result of the collision and will be charged in Columbia County Family Court with two counts of first degree reckless endangerment, second degree unlawfully fleeing a police officer, vehicle and traffic law charges and on the Family Court warrant. It does not appear as if alcohol or drugs were contributing factors at this point, but the investigation continues.
The juvenille was arraigned in Columbia County Family Court June 29 and sent to a secure juvenile detention facility. Anyone with any information or who may have witnessed this incident should contact Livingston State Police at 518 851-2001.
Flags ripped from grave sites
Army veteran and community activist Vincent Wallace, who has been assisting the City of Hudson with maintenance of Civil War veterans’ gravesites at Cedar Park Cemetery since 1995, told newsman Lance Wheeler July 2 he was “very angry” to find 35 of the 42 gravesites were desecrated when new flags recently placed in front of the headstones by VFW and American Legion members were torn from their staffs. Mr. Wallace said that the same type of incident has happened three times before. Mr. Wallace was slated to meet with city officials, VFW and Legionnaires July 3. The flags were replaced and ripped or broken again the following day.
To contact Diane Valden email dvalden@columbiapaper.com.