TOWN OF WASHINGTON – One person was killed and another critically injured when the car in which they were riding ran off the Shunpike in the Town of Washington late Wednesday night, struck and tree and burst into flames.
State Police said the accident at around 11:20 p.m. on Shunpike between Route 44 and Kennels Road involved a Toyota sedan driven by James Ruiz, 28, of Amenia. He was extricated from the vehicle; however, the passenger, Jeremy Annis, 20, also of Amenia, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Fire officials said he was trapped in the car.
Ruiz was airlifted to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla by Life Net Air 2 helicopter.
Amenia and Millbrook fire departments were at the scene along with Northern Dutchess Paramedics and the State Police Troop K Collision Reconstruction Unit. A dog that was in the vehicle when it crashed was located later Thursday morning by members of the Millbrook Fire Department. The canine was returned to the family unharmed.
The Shunpike wasn’t reopened until about 4:30 Thursday morning.
The investigation into what caused the crash is continuing.
