1-Car Crash Kills Dutchess Man

WASHINGTON, NY — A one-car crash in Dutchess County resulted in the death of an Amenia man Wednesday. State police said troopers were called to the Shunpike between Route 44 and Kennels Road around 11:20 p.m. Wednesday.

A Toyota sedan had gone off the roadway into a tree and became engulfed in flames.

Police said the initial investigation found James M. Ruiz, 28, of Amenia, was driving the Toyota and went off the roadway for unknown reasons.

His passenger — Jeremy L. Annis, 20, also of Amenia — was pronounced dead at the scene by the Dutchess County Medical Examiner's Office.

Ruiz was airlifted to the Westchester Medical Center by LifeNet Air 2 in critical condition.

The Shunpike was reopened around 4:30 a.m. Thursday.

The Amenia and Millbrook fire departments, Northern Dutchess Paramedics and the Troop K Collision Reconstruction Unit also responded to the scene.

State police said the investigation is ongoing.

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