SAUGERTIES – A collision
between a train and car in Saugerties at mid-day Thursday resulted in
the death of the rear seat passenger in the cab.
Saugerties Police Chief Joseph Sinagra identified the victim as Bertha
Whispell, 50, of Saugerties. She was ejected on impact and pronounced
dead at the scene.
As the cab was crossing the railroad tracks on Doyles Lane, a CSX freight
train slammed into the Kingston Kab vehicle driven by Phillip Prindle,
43, of Kingston. Both he and another passenger, Rodney Smith, 52, were
both taken to the Health Alliance Hospital Kingston Broadway campus for
treatment of what were believed to be non-life threatening injuries.
The events leading up to the crash remain under investigation.
CSX Railroad spokesman Rob Doolittle said the train was comprised of two
locomotives and was traveling southbound when it struck the taxicab at
the crossing.
Ulster County emergency services personnel responded to the scene to render
assistance to the occupants of the taxi, who were reported to have been
injured. CSX employees also responded to assist with the investigation.
Doolittle said there were no injuries to the crew of the train, which
was making local deliveries to customers between Kingston and Selkirk.
