15YO Dies, 2 Teens Charged With Manslaughter: NYSP

EAST FISHKILL, NY — A 15-year-old Dutchess County boy died Wednesday after having been seen clinging to a vehicle as it traveled down an area road. State police said, around 4:10 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12, the teen was seen by a patrol car clinging to the passenger side of an SUV as it went in the opposite direction on Clove Branch Road near Henry Drive in Hopewell Junction.

The patrol car turned around to follow the SUV and came upon the teen in the roadway.

Troopers stopped to render aid as the SUV fled from the area.

Wilson Santiago, 15, of the Town of Wappinger, died at the scene.

A 16-year-old and a 17-year-old were apprehended later in the evening.

They were arrested and charged with second-degree manslaughter, a felony.

The 17-year-old was arraigned in the Town of East Fishkill Court and sent to the Dutchess County Jail in lieu of $200,000 bail or $400,000 bond. The teen is scheduled to reappear in court Dec. 18.

The 16-year-old was scheduled to be arraigned in the Dutchess County Youth Part Thursday morning.

Their names were not released by police.

State Police Captain John Ryan called the incident "heartbreaking."

"New York State Police and the Town of East Fishkill Police quickly joined forces to unravel the sequence of events that led to Wilson's death," he said. "As a police officer, you never get used to seeing such tragedy."

Clove Branch Road was closed from the time of the accident until about 8 p.m. Wednesday.

It was again closed Thursday at 7:30 a.m. for additional photographing and a daylight search for more evidence.

State police were assisted by the Dutchess County District Attorney's Office and the Town of East Fishkill Fire and EMS.

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