Above: A photo of Kelly Utter, from a memorial GoFundMe.com page posted by her family.
A 50-year-old mother of four died and her son was seriously injured after a drunk driver struck them in the town of Rosendale on Friday, Sept. 26, according to a press release from the Ulster County Sheriff's Office.
Kelly A. Utter and her 19-year-old son Joseph M. Utter were driving south on Lucas Turnpike just a mile from their house in the early evening to pick up dinner, according to a GoFundMe.com page set up for the family.
When they reached the intersection of Cottekill Road, a car driven by 23-year-old Tyler J. Grable allegedly blew through a stop sign, striking the Utters' car. The collision was so powerful that Grable's car ended up upside down, leaning against on the porch of a nearby house. (See a photo taken by the Daily Freeman.)
Kelly Utter, who had been driving, was pronounced dead after being taken to Kingston City Hospital, now known as the HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley's Broadway campus. Joseph Utter was admitted with "serious physical injuries," according to the press release.
Police say that Grable, the driver of the other car, was drunk when he caused the crash. He was arrested and charged with felony vehicular manslaughter and assault, driving while intoxicated, and failure to stop. Grable was released on $15,000 bail on Saturday, Sept. 27, according to the Daily Freeman.
