CLAVERACK — A man was airlifted to Albany Medical Center on Saturday following a two-car accident in Claverack, Lt. Mark Dunspaugh of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office said.
Christopher Russell, 43, was a passenger in a car driven by Lindsay VanDeusen, 40, of Philmont.
Russell was treated by Greenport Rescue Squad at the scene before he was flown to Albany Medical Center with life threatening injuries, Dunspaugh said.
The crash occurred at about 4:20 p.m., on Route 66 at the intersection with county Route 20.
A 2015 BMW was being driven by VanDeusen north on Route 66 and slowed to make a left turn onto county Route 20 when her car was struck from behind by another vehicle, Dunspaugh said.
The vehicle that struck VanDeusen’s car was a 2013 Toyota driven by Jessica Thomas, 34, of Chatham, Dunspaugh said.
Both vehicles came to rest on the west shoulder of Route 66.
Columbia County 911 sent fire departments from Claverack and Mellenville and multiple ambulances from Greenport Rescue Squad to the scene.
When crews arrived, firefighters began making sure everyone was able to get out of their vehicles, and paramedics began evaluating them for injuries.
Russell was treated at the scene and was then brought to the Columbia County Airport, where he has placed on a Life Net helicopter, to be brought to Albany.
West Ghent and Stottville fire companies established the landing zone at the airport.
Thomas was treated at the scene by Greenport Rescue Squad and was taken to Columbia Memorial Health with non-life-threatening injuries. VanDeusen did not report any injuries, Dunspaugh said.
Route 66 was closed to traffic for a period, and then alternating one-way traffic, until the crash was cleared.
Thomas was issued two traffic tickets for New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law violations of following too closely and for speed not reasonable. Both tickets are returnable to Town of Claverack Court at a later date, Dunspaugh said.
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office investigated. They were assisted by state police. New York State Department of Transportation assisted with traffic control.
Investigating for the Sheriff’s Office was Senior Investigator Reagan Anderson, Investigator Patrick Mayo, Sgt. Jeffrey Hofstetter, Deputy Peter Merante, Deputy Phillip Gomm and Deputy Carlson Tillman.
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