Two pedestrians were ticketed in separate incidents on Partition St. in the village of Saugerties last week.
In the first, which took place on Nov. 1 at around 2:30 p.m., 45-year- old Christopher Rich of Saugerties was crossing Partition St. near Montgomery St. when he says he was struck by a 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee, operated by 17-year-old Baylee Brooks of Saugerties.
At the time of the incident, Rich was crossing Partition St. in an area absent a crosswalk. According to one witness, Rich was observed walking across the roadway as the Jeep was approaching. Rich was in the southbound lane of Partition St. as the vehicle passed by in the northbound lane. After making it to the curb of the street, Rich then appeared to fall to the ground. Police said an inspection of the Jeep revealed no physical evidence that the vehicle came into contact with Rich.
Rich, who was complaining of lower back pain, was treated at the scene by paramedics form DIAZ Ambulance and transported to the Health Alliance Broadway Campus in Kingston.
Rich was issued a summons under the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law for failing to yield to a motor vehicle while crossing the street in a non-designated crosswalk location.
The second incident took place Nov. 4 at around 5:15 p.m. just up the road at the Partition/Main intersection. Police said 52-year-old Clint Murphy of Saugerties walked into Main St. outside the designated crosswalk and against the pedestrian traffic safety signal, and was struck by a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix traveling west operated by 23-year-old Warren Strout of Saugerties.
Murphy was ticketed for failing to yield the right-of-way to a vehicle, crossing at location other than a crosswalk and disobeying pedestrian do-not-walk indicator device.
Such tickets have become more frequent in Saugerties following the police department’s efforts to improve pedestrian safety in the village center, where close calls and pedestrian/motor vehicle accidents are frequent.
