(Post has been updated -- scroll to bottom for more details.)
In addition to Friday's Grand Gorge car accident, which claimed the life of a Gilboa man, last weekend saw two other fatal accidents: a snowmobile crash in the town of Rochester and a car accident on Rte. 28 in Olive last night.
The Daily Freeman has a story today about the snowmobile accident, which reportedly happened on Saturday night but wasn't discovered until Sunday morning:
“This was a bad one,” said Accord Fire Chief John Dunning.
Dunning said the snowmobile, with two male passengers, both “local,” hit a structure, like a cart or trailer, in the middle of a field near Krum Road and Cedar Ridge Road in the town of Rochester about 8 p.m. Saturday.
“There was still hay in structure,” Dunning said.
“The call from dispatch came in to us Sunday at 2:18 p.m., so they were out there all night in the cold,” Dunning said Sunday night.
The Mid-Hudson News Network reported that 34-year-old Richard Johnson of Kerhonkson was killed in the accident. Another man was severely injured, according to news reports.
There is very little information available about the automobile accident on Rte. 28, which the Times Herald-Record is reporting happened last night.
NY Alert reports that Rte. 28 was closed between Bostock Rd. and Longyear Rd. at 10:20pm last night for an accident investigation. (The route is now clear.)
The Mid-Hudson News Network is reporting that it was a one-car accident that involved a tree:
A one car crash on Route 28 in the Town of Olive early Sunday evening claimed the life of one person. Initial reports indicated the car struck a tree and the victim was trapped inside.
This stretch of Rte. 28 in Ulster County has seen multiple fatal accidents recently, including two in one month last year.
4pm update: The name of the surviving snowmobile victim has been released, according to the Daily Freeman. He is 38-year-old Walter Startup, and he is still in critical condition.
The State Police have also issued a press release about the accident on Rte. 28. Reportedly, the driver, 26-year-old Charles E. Speight, died after swerving off the road and into a tree while trying to pass another car. Here is the press release in full:
The State Police in Kingston investigate one vehicle fatal accident
The State Police at Kingston are currently investigating a 1 vehicle fatal accident that occurred on Sunday, February 13, 2011 at approximately 7:05 PM on State Route 28 in the Town of Olive. Preliminary investigation reveals the vehicle, a 2001 Toyota pick up was traveling eastbound and attempted to pass an uninvolved vehicle traveling in the same direction. The operator, Charles E. Speight age 26, of 35 Chase Ave Yonkers, NY entered the westbound lane into the path of an oncoming vehicle. Mr Speight took evasive action and drove off the south shoulder, striking a snow bank. He then lost control and crossed back across SR 28 and struck a tree off of the north shoulder. Speight was extricated by the Olive Fire Dept, and was pronounced deceased at the scene. State Police were assisted by the Town of Olive Police Dept and the DEP Police.
