Rockland Man Charged in Hit & Run of Bicyclist in Putnam

Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports that a Rockland County man has been charged after he allegedly struck a bicyclist with his car and then left the scene without stopping. Mr. Ricardo McKay, aged 71, of 4 Greendale Road in New City, is accused of hitting a 52-year-old Cold Spring woman with his car as she was riding her bike along Route 9D in Garrison on Wednesday (September 23rd).

It is alleged that, at about 2:00 P.M. on September 23rd, Mr. McKay was driving a 2015 Toyota sedan 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. As Mr. McKay’s car passed the bicyclist, the car reportedly sideswiped the cyclist and struck her left shoulder and left hip. Mr. 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, who declined to go to the hospital.

The deputies gathered physical evidence consisting of automotive debris from the scene and recordings from security cameras in the area. After a two-day investigation, deputies identified Mr. 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.

The defendant was issued an appearance ticket and is due to answer the charges in Philipstown Justice Court on October 5th. If convicted on the misdemeanor charge, he could face up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.00.