KINDERHOOK—An Onondaga County man was killed and his three passengers were hurt in a crash on Route 203 at the County Route 21B intersection, Tuesday, December 1 at 10:20 p.m.
Kinderhook and Livingston State Police investigated.
Aaron Cortright, 28, of Liverpool was driving north on County Route 21B when he drove past a yield sign and onto Route 203 into the path of a large eastbound box truck, according to a State Police press release.
The truck ran into the driver’s side of the Cortright car and both vehicles came to rest in a field on the north side of Route 203.
Mr. Cortright was dead at the scene.
Chatham firefighters extricated everyone in the car.
The Chatham Rescue Squad took passenger Casper Gottuso, 22, of Central Square to the Albany Medical Center (AMC) for treatment of chest and abdominal injuries.
A LifeNet helicopter airlifted passenger Lea Wolven, 21, of Hastings to AMC with neck and hip injuries. Passenger Christopher McCarthy, 26, of Syracuse was also airlifted to AMC for treatment of internal injuries.
Stephen O’Brien, 39, of Watervliet, the truck driver, was not hurt.
Columbia County Coroner Angelo Nero was on the accident scene, as were, Ghent firefighters, the Valatie Rescue Squad, the State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit and the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit.
Route 203 was closed for about five hours due to the crash.
An autopsy on Mr. Cortright was scheduled at AMC at 1 p.m. December 2.
Ancram
A driver was hurt in a crash with a propane delivery truck on Route 82, southeast of the Poole Hill Road intersection, November 18 at 12:57 p.m.
Dave P. Herring, 57, of Millerton was driving southeast when his car ran into the rear of a parked propane delivery truck owned by Paraco Gas Corp. of Rye Brook.
The truck had its flashing lights on and the driver was making a delivery to a residence.
Mr. Herring was flown by medevac helicopter to the Albany Medical Center for a head injury. Sheriff’s Office Sergeant John DeRocha investigated.
Austerlitz
Barry C. Oathout, 44, of Ghent was charged with second degree aggravated harassment and second degree criminal contempt by Deputy Josh Oakes, November 23 at 9:28 a.m.
Mr. Oathout allegedly made repeated telephone calls to a person he was directed by a court order of protection not to contact.
Arraigned in Austerlitz Court before Justice Robert Lagonia, Mr. Oathout was released on his own recognizance and directed to return to court at a later date.
*Austerlitz firefighters and the Chatham Rescue Squad were called to a house fire at 118 Spencer Road, Austerlitz, just before 7 a.m. December 1. The fire chief arrived to find the building in flames and called for mutual aid from Red Rock, Canaan, East Chatham, Lebanon Valley, Chatham and Hillsdale. Craryville stoodby for Hillsdale. Philmont Rescue was requested to the scene by Chatham Rescue. One Red Rock firefighter reportedly fell through the floor to the basement but was not injured. New York State Electric and Gas was requested to disconnect power. The Columbia County Cause and Origin Team is investigating. The Columbia County Fire Coordinators Office was on the scene.
Alcohol/drugs
The following face alcohol- or drug-related charges:
*Brittany Simpson, 22, of Philmont was charged with driving while intoxicated, operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content greater than .08%, tinted windows and failure to keep right by Deputies Brendan Filli and Josh Oakes during a traffic stop in Greenport, November 22 at 3:37 a.m. Released with traffic tickets, Ms. Simpson will appear in Greenport Court December 7.
*Neil J. McGillion, 66, of Kinderhook was charged with driving while intoxicated, operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content greater than .08%, depositing refuse on the highway, failure to keep right and refusal to take a breath test by Deputy Louis Bray during a traffic stop in the Village of Kinderhook, November 25 at 10:03 p.m. Mr. McGillion will answer the charges in Kinderhook Village Court December 7.
*Christopher Larkins, 24, of Westport, Conn. was charged with driving while intoxicated, aggravated driving while intoxicated, unlawful possession of marijuana and speed in excess of the state 55mph limit by Deputy Louis Bray during a traffic stop on the Taconic State Parkway in Austerlitz, November 22 at 6:05 p.m. Mr. Larkins was arraigned in Austerlitz Court before Justice Cheryl Roberts and sent to the county jail in lieu of $1,000 cash bail or $2,500 bail bond.
*Nicole R. Dawson, 30, of Albany was charged with driving while intoxicated, aggravated driving while intoxicated, third degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, operating without headlamps, failure to keep right, illegal signal and operating without a driver’s license by Deputies Louis Bray and Brendan Filli during a traffic stop in Prison Alley, Hudson, November 21 at 3:34 a.m. Ms. Dawson will answer the charges in Hudson City Court December 7.
*Robert Kavanaugh, 28, of Claverack was charged with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and petit larceny by Trooper Jerrad Weber, November 20 at 12:12 p.m.
Mr. Kavanaugh allegedly stole a carton of cigarettes from the Claverack Xtra Mart. When troopers took him into custody for the theft, they found him to allegedly possess four Valium pills. Mr. Kavanaugh was slated to appear in court at a later date.
*David Warfield, age and address not available, was charged with felony driving while intoxicated, felony driving with a suspended license and failure to submit to a breath test by Trooper Wayne Oles during a traffic stop on Fairview Avenue, Greenport, November 20 at 9:49 p.m.
Arraigned in Greenport Court, Mr. Warfield was jailed without bail.
*Darren Haviland, 27, of Craryville was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs, unlawful possession of marijuana and not wearing a seatbelt by Trooper Anthony Pelizza during a traffic stop in Claverack, November 21 at 9:41 p.m. Mr. Haviland was scheduled to appear in Claverack Court at a later date.
*Toney J. Williams, 27, of Hudson was charged with driving with a suspended license, failure to dim headlights and unlawful possession of marijuana by Troopers Matthew Radewitz and Gary Mazzacano Jr., during a traffic stop on Fairview Avenue, Greenport, November 23 at 1:21 a.m. Mr. Williams was turned over to Hudson Police Officer Brent Rowe on a bench warrant for failure to appear in court to answer a charge of third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He was held for arraignment.
*Nicola Durham, 42, of Hudson was charged with fifth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (cocaine), unlawful possession of marijuana and having no taillights by Trooper Andrew Behrens during a traffic stop in Greenport, November 23 at 9:09 p.m. Ms. Durham was arraigned in Greenport Court and released.
To contact Diane Valden email dvalden@ColumbiaPaper.com
