Just after sunset on Tuesday, Jan. 23, Raymond Rattray’s life was ended when a dark sedan hit the college student, who was walking home from class along route 208 just south of the SUNY New Paltz campus. The driver fled the scene after fatally striking Rattray with the vehicle. He was discovered unresponsive in the surrounding brush. Sheriff’s deputies are still investigating.
According to what’s been reported, Rattray was walking along the narrow shoulder of the southbound lane, and was struck somewhere between Hawk Drive and Cross Creek Road. This suggests that Rattray was struck from behind. Deputies report that the incident occurred around 5:11 p.m., and that the body of 22-year-old Rattray was not discovered until 1:16 p.m. the following day. A stretch of route 208 was closed for several hours during the initial investigation.
While no description of the driver has been provided, the vehicle is believed to be a dark sedan that sustained damage to the front end on the passenger side.
Anyone who may have information regarding this crime is encouraged to call investigators at 845/338-3640. Unlike the town police, the sheriff’s office has a confidential tip line, which can be reached at845/340-3599.
Rattray was tragically the fourth Ulster County student to die in an automotive-related accident within just the first month of 2024. Two Kingston High School students were killed and a third was seriously injured on January 8. Two days later, another hit-and-run incident caused the death of a 21-year-old SUNY Purchase student in Saugerties.
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