PLEASANT VALLEY – A car accident on Route 44 just east of Rossway Road shut down Route 44 Saturday afternoon as first responders worked to extricate the operator and utility workers attempted to secure a severed utility pole. The incident occurred around 3:20 p.m. on September 25.
Witnesses say that the vehicle, a silver/gray sedan had been traveling at a high rate of speed heading east from Poughkeepsie and struck several vehicles along the way. The bumper to the vehicle was located at Route 44 and Traver Road, long before the vehicle came to a crashing stop.
One witness who was traveling west on Route 44 said the vehicle was heading towards him, swerved back into the eastbound lane, and began to barrel-roll several times, severing a utility pole, before coming to rest on its side in the driveway of 2034 Route 44. The lower half of the utility pole had traveled more than 100 feet from its original location, landing in a ravine on the eastbound side of Route 44.
Pleasant Valley firefighters, assisted by deputies from the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office and medics from Mobile Life arrived at the scene and found a vehicle on its side, with the male operator unconscious and entrapped in the vehicle. The vehicle was stabilized, and the male was extricated. He allegedly regained consciousness before being transported by Mobile Life medics to a local hospital in critical condition.
Police radio transmissions indicate that the operator had no identification on him and he was described as a black male between 25 and 30 years of age. Additional radio communications indicate that the vehicle is registered to a church in the area.
Firefighters and rescue personnel discovered two child safety seats and diaper bags in the vehicle, with no sign of additional passengers, child or adult. The rescuers began an intensive search of the surrounding area to search for any victims that may have been ejected during the wreck. The initial search had negative results.
The condition of the operator has not been released.
The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident and is asking anyone with information to call 845-605-2583.
