By DIANE VALDEN
RED HOOK—Village of Red Hook Police patrols were dispatched by Dutchess County 911 for a report of a two-car head-on crash on State Route 9G just south of Peach Tree Court, Thursday, January 23 at 3:55 p.m.
According to a Red Hook Police Facebook post, upon preliminary investigation it was determined that William Dougher, 68, of Germantown was driving north on Route 9G in a 2013 Hyundai. For unknown reasons his vehicle failed to keep right, crossed over the double yellow lines and ran head-on into a southbound 2021 Dodge Ram pickup truck being operated by Lazaro Salas, 60, of Red Hook.
Mr. Dougher was trapped in his vehicle and had to be extricated using the Jaws of Life. He was taken to Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck where he was pronounced dead. Mr. Salas suffered non-life threatening injuries and was taken to Mid Hudson Regional Hospital, Poughkeepsie for treatment. State Route 9G was closed down for nearly three hours while the crash scene was reconstructed. The Red Hook Police Department was assisted on scene by the New York State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit, Northern Dutchess Paramedics, and the Tivoli Fire Company. The investigation is ongoing at this time.
The Copake Fire Company was dispatched January 18 at 11:16 a.m. for the cold water rescue of a dog through the ice in Robinson Pond, Taconic Shores at 1170 Lakeview Road, Copake. Before firefighters arrived, several attempts had been made by good samaritans to save the dog including one person who broke through the ice but was able to self rescue, according to a Copake Fire Company #1 Facebook post. A second good samaritan with a personal kayak was able to get the dog on his craft. Copake firefighters deployed to assist in retrieving both dog and kayaker back to shore. “We understand and appreciate folks who want to help in an emergency. However, we encourage people to call 911 and not put themselves in danger and become victims themselves. Copake Fire is always looking for good samaritans to come join our team. Contact chief@copakefire.org to find your role in helping the community!” Firefighters were back in service at 11:48 a.m. /Copake Fire Company #1 Facebook post
DA supports Governor’s stance on Discovery Laws
HUDSON—Columbia County District Attorney Chris Liberati-Conant lauded Governor Kathy Hochul’s efforts, as outlined in the State of the State address, to bring much needed balance to the criminal discovery process.
“The days of trial by ambush and hiding the ball are gone, and rightfully so. But we must continue to fine tune the discovery process so that prosecutors and crime victims do not see cases dismissed for minor and technical violations. We are just looking for a fair process for everyone involved,” DA Liberati-Conant said in a press release.
During the address, Gov. Hochul proposed streamlining the discovery process to ensure fair trials, end delays, and ultimately hold criminals accountable.
AG James urges New Yorkers to beware of sham charities
NEW YORK—State Attorney General Letitia James recently provided guidance to New Yorkers looking to support relief efforts as wildfires continue to burn across the greater Los Angeles area. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) warns that New Yorkers should be wary of sham charities attempting to take advantage of their concern and encourages everyone to take steps to ensure they are giving to legitimate charitable organizations.
“In the midst of terrible natural disasters such as the wildfires impacting the greater Los Angeles area, scammers often take advantage of generous acts in exchange for personal gain. While it is inspiring to see so many New Yorkers eager to help, I encourage them to be cautious of sham charities that prey on people’s generosity and ensure that they are giving to trustworthy organizations and groups. We will continue to do everything we can to support victims of this terrible tragedy and I urge anyone who experiences any issues when donating to contact my office,” the Attorney General said in a press release.
Fraudulent organizations can try to take advantage of New Yorkers’ good intentions, especially following natural disasters. Given the significant impact of wildfires, it is essential for New Yorkers to be informed as they seek to help. The OAG offers the following tips to ensure donations are safe and effective:
*If you receive a solicitation by email, find out who is behind that email address. Contact the charity whose name is in the email or visit its website to find out if the email is really from the charity. Do not give personal information or your credit card number in response to an email solicitation unless you have checked out the charity
*Before giving through social media or fundraising sites, research the identity of the organizer of the fundraising efforts and ask the same questions you would of a charity. Online platforms that host groups and individuals soliciting for causes may not thoroughly vet those who use their service. Donors should only give to campaigns conducted by people whom they know. Donors also should take a close look at the site’s FAQs and Terms and Conditions to see what fees will be charged. Also, don’t assume that charities recommended on social media sites, blogs, or other websites have already been vetted. Research the charity yourself to confirm that the charity is aware of the campaign and has given its approved permission for the use of its name or logo. If available, sign up for updates from the campaign organizer to keep abreast of how contributions to the campaign are being spent
*Donate to charities you are familiar with and carefully review information about the charity before you give. Check a website like https://disasterphilanthropy.org/ to find out which charities are at the aid forefront. Most charities are required to register and file financial reports with OAG’s Charities Bureau if they solicit contributions from New Yorkers. Check OAG’s website for financial reports of charities or ask the charity directly for its reports
*Find out how the charity plans to use your donation, including the services and individuals your donation will support. Find out more than just the cause. Find out what organization or entity will receive the money and what programs it conducts or what services it provides. Find out how much of the organization’s budget supports its mission. All charities have administrative expenses, but be wary if these costs outweigh the amount spent on relief
*Often, in the aftermath of tragedies, new organizations emerge to meet community needs. While most of these organizations are well-intentioned, and some may provide innovative forms of assistance, some may not have the experience or infrastructure to follow through on their promises, and some may turn out to be scams
*Exercise caution before you text a contribution. Check the charity’s website or call the charity to confirm it has authorized contributions to be made via text message
*Don’t give cash. Give directly to the charity either by check made payable to the organization or through the charity’s website
*Be cautious before giving credit card or personal information over the phone, by text message, or via the internet. In all cases, make sure you are familiar with the organization to which you give such information and check to see that the fundraising campaign is legitimate
*Report suspicious organizations. If you believe an organization is misrepresenting its work or that a fundraising or charitable scam is taking place, file a complaint with the Charities Bureau or call 212-416-8401.
