Two months after SUNY New Paltz senior Raymond Rattray was struck and killed in a hit-and-run, Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa announced the arrest of Gardiner resident Ty Kobelt in connection with the incident.
In a press conference held at SUNY New Paltz on Monday, March 25, Figueroa said Kobelt, 33, was arrested three days earlier and charged with felony counts of second-degree manslaughter, tampering with physical evidence and leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle crash. Kobelt is currently being held at the Ulster County Jail in lieu of $250,000 ahead of an as-yet unscheduled appearance before an Ulster County Grand Jury.
Ulster County District Attorney Emmanuel Nneji said the investigation into the incident is ongoing, and that he expects to prosecute the case to the fullest extent of the law.
According to police, Rattray was walking from class to his off-campus apartment on the southbound side of Route 208 between Hawk Drive and Cross Creek Road on Tuesday, January 23 when he was struck by a dark-colored sedan. Police said the vehicle fled the scene after sustaining damage to the front end on the passenger side. At 1:16 p.m. on Wednesday, January 24, Rattray’s body was found roughly 20 feet from the road in a wooded area after receiving reports of a “deceased subject” just off the SUNY campus.
“The safety of our students and campus community is paramount to a university experience,” said SUNY New Paltz President Darrell P. Wheeler. “The University community continues to mourn the loss of Raymond Rattray from January’s pedestrian-vehicle accident. SUNY New Paltz is grateful to the Ulster County sheriff, district attorney, executive, New York State Police and all who are working diligently through this case.”
Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa said, “This is a tragic event for the SUNY New Paltz community and Ulster County. The carelessness shown to human life in several recent fatal hit and run accidents this year is unprecedented. This cannot be tolerated for a civilized society. Our deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of Mr. Raymond Rattray.”
Since the start of 2024 there have been three hit-and-run incidents resulting in death in Ulster County.
On January 10, Starllie Swonyoung and an unnamed friend were walking on Route 9W between Malden-on-Hudson and Saugerties at aapproximately 5:10 p.m. when Swonyoung was allegedly struck by a 2021 Subaru operated by Lacy Maxwell, who authorities claim then left the scene without checking on the welfare of the victim or reporting the incident to 911 or police. The next day, she and codefendant Ryan Maxwell allegedly staged an accident to cover up for the damage sustained to the vehicle from the hit-and-run, and then they allegedly submitted a claim to their insurance company.
During two separate proceedings before Judge Bryan Rounds on Wednesday, March 6, Lacy Maxwell, 42, and Ryan Maxwell, 43, pleaded not guilty to all charges. Lacy Maxwell was charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident, a felony; and both Lacy and Ryan Maxwell were charged with 3rd degree insurance fraud, staging a motor vehicle accident, and tampering with physical evidence.
Lacy Maxwell was remanded to the Ulster County Jail on $100,000 cash bail, $200,000 property bond, and $300,000 partially secured bond. Ryan Maxwell’s charges are ineligible for cash bail and he was released on his own recognizance.
And on Friday, March 1 in Marlborough, 72-year-old Donna Cristallo was pushing 75-year-old Stephen Celuch across Route9W in his wheelchair. The two were struck by a 2020 Kia Forte state police confirmed was driven by 25-year-old Angela Jennie Fischl of Newburgh. Fischl allegedly fled the scene and was stopped by Town of Newburgh Police on North Plank Road, roughly seven miles south of the accident. No charge has been filed against Fischl as of press time.
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