Early Morning Crash Claims 1 Life On Taconic State Parkway

EAST FISHKILL, NY — A crash on the Taconic State Parkway turned deadly after a motorist was changing lanes to avoid a blocked lane early Tuesday morning. The New York State Police said, around 5:45 a.m., troopers were helping a motorist who had just struck a deer in the right southbound lane of the parkway at mile marker 39.

As the troopers were placing road flares behind the patrol vehicles with emergency lighting activated, a 2019 GMC Sierra, being driven south by Joaquin Rodriguez, 51, of Lagrange, merged into the left lane from the closed right lane.

A southbound 2003 Subaru Forester driven by Daniel P. O'Brien, 50, of Lagrange, was also in the left lane and rear-ended Rodriguez's car, police said.

Authorities said O'Brien was not wearing a seatbelt and suffered severe trauma from the crash. He was extricated from the car after which life-saving techniques were performed by troopers until EMStar Ambulance and East Fishkill Fire/Rescue arrived to take over.

However, O'Brien died of his injuries, police said.

State police said the investigation remains ongoing.

The East Fishkill Police Department and Dutchess County Medical Examiner's Office were also on scene.

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