DWI Charge for Retired Cop in Fatal Crash

A well-known teaching assistant at Primrose Elementary School is dead and a well-known public servant has been charged after a 3-car crash on Route 6.

Richard O’Keefe, 57, of Mahopac, New York, faces charges of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, a Class B Felony, Vehicular Manslaughter in the 2nd Degree, a Class D Felony, and Driving While Intoxicated, an Unclassified Misdemeanor.

He was arrested Nov. 15, the day after the nighttime crash in Carmel.

State troopers were dispatched Saturday evening to investigate the fatal collision on Route 6 in the Mahopac portion of the town. State police assistance was requested by the Carmel Police Department who had made the initial response.

State police said their investigation revealed that a Jeep Patriot operated by Anna Estrada, 53, of Carmel, exited a parking area to make a left-hand turn onto Route 6 south. Estrada failed to yield the right of way to a Dodge Caravan driven by Richard O’Keefe, which was traveling north on Route 6.

O’Keefe’s minivan subsequently struck the Jeep on the drivers’ side, causing it to overturn. A third vehicle, operated southbound by Philip Kossin of Mahopac, was also struck as a result of the crash.

Kossin was not injured.

A rear seat passenger traveling in Estrada’s SUV, Frances Ghelarducci of Mahopac, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

Ghelarducci , 54, was a teaching assistant at Primrose Elementary School, known as “Mrs. G” to everyone. District officials told lohud.com they were alerting staff and parents.

Anna Estrada and her other passengers Steven Ghelarducci, 54, and Ernest Estrada, 57, both of Mahopac, were transported by EMS personnel to Westchester Medical Center with non life threatening injuries.

O’Keefe and his passenger, 30-year-old Michael J. Guariloff, were uninjured.

When troopers interviewed O’Keefe, they observed clues that indicated he was intoxicated at the time of the crash and he was placed in custody, police said.

Mr. O’Keefe was arraigned in front of the Honorable Justice Richard Vercollone at Southeast Town Court and sent to the Putnam County Jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond.

The crash, which closed Route 6 for several hours, was reconstructed by the New York State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit.

O’Keefe, a retired Carmel police officer, has served on the Mahopac Board of Education and the Carmel Town Board. His sister serves on the town board and his brother-in-law is the town supervisor, according to The Journal News.