EDITOR’S NOTE: The Columbia Paper is counting down the top 5 local stories of 2023. We looked at the top stories of the year, those that drew the highest number of readers to our website and Facebook page, or that had the greatest impact on our community and its residents. Here is the Number 1 story for the year. File photo
Tesla driver identified after fiery double fatal
By DIANE VALDEN
LIVINGSTON—Victor Caraballo, 45, of Clifton Park, has been identified by State Police as the driver of a Tesla involved in a fiery fatal motor vehicle crash into a house, which occurred June 29.
At 1 a.m. that day troopers were dispatched by Columbia County 911 to a residence on State Route 9 for a structure fire with two occupants inside.
One house occupant, Barbara Lasher, was able to escape the flames prior to the arrival of first responders and was later taken to Albany Medical Center by Northern Dutchess Paramedics. The second occupant, Mrs. Lasher’s husband, Peter E. Lasher, age 81, was found dead inside the residence.
While firefighters extinguished the flames a vehicle was discovered containing a single deceased occupant which had struck the residence.
Initial investigation of the crash determined the 2022 Tesla Model X driven by Mr. Caraballo, was traveling at a high rate of speed southbound on State Route 9 and went off the roadway.
The vehicle struck a tree and then the residence before bursting into flames. Mr. Caraballo was found dead inside the vehicle.
Clermont, Taghkanic, Germantown, Greenport, Claverack, Ancram and Mellenville firefighters all responded to the scene.
