Skip to main content

Sheriff’s Office investigates fatal car/motorcycle accident


Published: 10/21/2013

For More Information Contact:

Captain John Watterson 
(845) 486-3860 

The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office reports the investigation into a car/motorcycle accident with one fatality, which occurred on Route 9 in the Town of Red Hook just before 10 am on 10/21/13.

Sheriff’s Deputies responded to Route 9 near Rokeby Rd in the Town of Red Hook (near the Hannaford’s Store) for a report of an accident involving a car and motorcycle, and upon arrival it was discovered that the motorcyclist had suffered serious life-threatening injuries in the crash. The motorcyclist was transported by ambulance to Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck, where he later died. At the time of this release the identification of the motorcyclist is being withheld pending the notification of the next-of-kin. The operator/sole occupant of the car, Lawrence Gross (age 75 of Staatsburg), suffered a minor injury in the crash and was not transported to the hospital.

Preliminary investigation has indicated that the 2003 Honda motorcycle was southbound on Route 9 when it struck a 1989 Mercedes Benz, which was turning left from a parking lot to go northbound. The motorcycle struck the car at the driver’s side rear passenger door, and the motorcyclist was then ejected. The investigation into the cause(s) of the crash is continuing by members of the Sheriff’s Office Crash Investigation Unit, and at this time excessive speed and reckless operation of the motorcycle are thought to be factors. The road was closed for approximately 3 hrs for the investigation, and has been re-opened at the time of this release. The Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by members of the State Police, Village of Red Hook Police, Red Hook Fire Department, and Northern Dutchess Paramedics. More information may be released as it becomes available.