RHINEBECK – A motorist
was injured Friday morning when the minivan she was driving ran off Route
308 in Rhinebeck.
Fire department officials said the driver apparently lost control of the
vehicle as she rounded a curve, crashed into a utility pole, which split
in half, then rolled down an embankment, landing on the passenger side
and pinning the driver in the vehicle.
Firefighters on the scene of the vehicle crash
The thick brush around the car had to be cleared in order to begin extrication
of the driver with a hydraulic rescue tool. The roof had to be cut off
in order to gain access and remove the driver, the only person in the
car.
She was transported by Rhinebeck Rescue Squad to MidHudson Regional
Hospital in Poughkeepsie for evaluation.
Traffic was detoured for more than three hours during the extrication
and police investigation, and then one lane was reopened as Central
Hudson began operations to restore the electric pole and downed wires.
Assisting at the scene were Northern Dutchess Paramedics, Dutchess County
Sheriff’s patrol, State Police and Central Hudson.
