SAUGERTIES – Two people were injured when the dump truck they were in rolled over on its side as the driver attempted to avoid a head-on crash with another vehicle while in the Town of Saugerties.
Town Police said that around 12:10 p.m. on Friday, August 19, Liam Browne, 19, of Saugerties was driving a 2022 Jeep Compass south on Old Kings Highway when he attempted to pass a 1987 Ford dump truck in a no passing zone. The truck was pulling a Bobcat and a paving machine.
Steven McConnel, 64, of St. Joseph, Louisiana, who was driving a 2017 Ford F-150 pickup truck north of Old Kings Highway, swerved in order to avoid a head-on crash with Browne’s vehicle.
The driver of the dump truck, 61-year-old Raymond Mendock of Mt. Marion, ran off the shoulder of the road to avoid a head-on crash with McConnel’s vehicle.
In doing so, the dump truck rolled over onto its side coming to rest partially on the road and an earth embankment.
As Mendock was attempting to avoid the collision, Browne’s vehicle struck the front of the dump truck.
Mendock and a passenger in the dump truck were injured and transported by Dias Ambulance to the hospital.
Browne was charged with passing over a double yellow line and reckless driving.
Assisting at the scene were State Police, Malden Westcamp Fire Department, and Diaz Ambulance.
