A 22-year-old woman’s failure to see that traffic was stopped on Rt. 9W for tree work led to an accident involving five vehicles. Multiple persons were injured, though none of the injuries were considered life-threatening.
At 8:35 a.m. this morning, police responded to the incident, which occurred just south of Glasco Tpke. At the time of the accident, traffic traveling north on Rt. 9W had been stopped by a flag person with the Asplundh Tree Company. Police said Laura Burgher, 22, of Kingston was operating a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt and traveling north when she failed to observe that traffic was stopped. Burgher’s vehicle ran into the back of a 2002 GMC envoy operated by 46-year-old Keith Hines of Kingston, forcing Hines’s vehicle into the back of a 2005 Honda Civic operated by 32-year-old Jessica Stewart of Lake Katrine, forcing Stewart’s vehicle into the backend of a 2016 Honda Accord operated by 47-year-old Steven Scotti of Hurley.
At the time of the crash, 23-year-old Stefan Rauschendorfer of Saugerties was traveling north on 9W in a 2012 Scion directly behind Burger’s vehicle. When the accident occurred, Rauschendorfer attempted to avoid striking Burger’s vehicle, swerving to the right and going across the shoulder of the roadway, onto the embankment, causing the Scion to go airborne, roll over and come to rest right-side-up. Rauschendorfer was not injured in the crash.
Burgher was ticketed for speed not reasonable or prudent.
Rt. 9W was closed to all traffic for one hour in the area of the crash while police conducted their investigation and the scene was cleared up.
Saugerties Police were assisted at the scene by members of the Glasco Fire Department, Mount Marion Fire Department, DIAZ Ambulance and Mobile Life Support.
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