Rockland Man Accused in Putnam Bicycle Hit-and-Run

A Rockland County man has been charged after he allegedly struck a bicyclist with his car and then left the scene without stopping.

Ricardo McKay, 71, of New City, is accused of hitting a 52-year-old Cold Spring woman with his car as she was riding her bike along Route9D in Garrison on Wednesday.

It is alleged that, at about 2 P.M. Sept. 23, McKay was driving a 2015 Toyotasedan in a southbound direction on Route 9D near the intersection of Old Manitou Road when his car overtook the bicyclist, who was riding along the edge of the southbound lane of the road. Police allege that as McKay’s car passed the bicyclist, the car sideswiped the cyclist and struck her left shoulderand left hip. McKay then reportedly failed to stop, as required by law, and drove off in a southbound direction on Route 9D.

Sheriff’s Deputies Christopher Tompkins and Matthew Monroe investigated the incident. The Garrison Volunteer Ambulance Corps responded to the scene and rendered first aid to the victim, whodeclined to go to the hospital.

The deputies gathered physical evidence including automotive debris from the scene and recordings from security cameras in the area.

After a two-day investigation, they identified McKay as the alleged hit-and-run driver and charged him with leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, a Class A misdemeanor, and unsafe passing of a bicycle, a traffic infraction.

He was issued an appearance ticket and is due to answer the charges in Philipstown Justice Court on Oct. 5. If convicted on the misdemeanor charge, he could face up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.