EAST FISHKILL – On September 8, 2020, the New York State Police investigated a fatal crash on the Taconic State Parkway in the town of East Fishkill, that took the life of a Lagrange man.
At approximately 5:45 a.m. Troopers were assisting a motorist who had just struck a deer in the right lane of the Taconic State Parkway at mile marker 39 southbound. While the Troopers were placing road flares behind the patrol vehicles with emergency lighting activated, a southbound 2019 GMC Sierra, operated by Joaquin Rodriguez, age 51, of Lagrange, merged into the left lane from the closed right lane. A southbound 2003 Subaru Forester operated by Daniel O’Brien, aged 50 years, of Lagrange, also in the left lane then rear-ended the GMC Sierra.
Mr. O’Brien was not wearing a seatbelt and suffered severe trauma from the crash. Troopers extricated him from the vehicle and began performing life-saving techniques until EMStar Ambulance, and East Fishkill Fire/Rescue arrived to take over life-saving efforts. Mr. O’Brien unfortunately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene.
This investigation remains ongoing.
East Fishkill Police Department and the Dutchess County Medical Examiner’s Office were also on scene.
