HOPEWELL JUNCTION – An East Fishkill Police officer was killed in the line of duty Monday evening after being involved in a one-car motor vehicle accident on the Taconic State Parkway. The officer was traveling to Westchester Medical Center to continue an investigation into an accident involving a car and a pedestrian that occurred earlier in the evening.
On December 18, 2023, minutes after 6 p.m., the East Fishkill officer was traveling south on the Taconic State Parkway when his patrol vehicle left the roadway between Miller Hill Road and I-84. The officer’s vehicle struck a tree, rendering the sole occupant unconscious.
A passing motorist came upon the accident and used the patrol vehicle’s radio to communicate with Dutchess County 911 to alert them of the accident.
First responders converged on the scene and began performing life-saving measures on the officer. He was transported to MidHudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie in an East Fishkill Fire Department ambulance. The trip to the trauma center was aided by police officers from several area agencies closing intersections along the route to give the ambulance unimpeded access to the hospital.
Several police officers awaited the arrival of their fellow law enforcement officer who was brought in just after 7 p.m.
The officer was pronounced dead at the hospital and arrangements were made to transport the fallen officer’s body up the street to the Dutchess County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The vehicle carrying the officer was escorted by police from several agencies. Traffic on Washington Street was closed to traffic by patrol vehicles as officers stood at attention as the transport vehicle passed by just after 10 p.m.
State Police and the East Fishkill Police Department are investigating the fatal crash.
The East Fishkill Police Department was taken out of service Monday night and all calls to their headquarters were forwarded to the Dutchess County 911 Center for police response from other agencies.
Video of transport to hospital and medical examiner’s office below pictures.
Video of fellow officers escorting their fallen colleague to the hospital and ultimately to the Dutchess County Medical Examiner’s Office:
