*Updated 12/13/18* State Police investigating motor vehicle crash in East Fishkill
NEW YORK STATE POLICE
Major Richard L. Mazzone
Troop K Commander
East Fishkill, New York – On December 12, 2018, the New York State Police arrested a sixteen-year-old and a seventeen-year-old for Manslaughter in the 2nd degree, a class C felony following, the death of a local 15-year-old teenager.
On December 12, 2018, at about 4:10 p.m., a state police patrol was traveling southeast on Clove Branch Road near Henry Drive in Hopewell Junction when a teenager was observed clinging to the passenger side of an SUV traveling in the opposite direction. The state police patrol turned around to catch up to the SUV and came upon the teenager in the roadway. The patrol stopped to render aid as the SUV fled the scene. The teenager subsequently died at the scene.
The deceased was identified as Wilson Santiago, age 15, of the town of Wappinger.
The two occupants of the SUV were apprehended later that evening.
Clove Branch Road was closed from the time of the accident until about 8:00 p.m. that evening. The road was again closed this morning at 7:30 a.m. for additional photographing, and to conduct a daylight search for additional evidence.
“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. As a police officer, you never get used to seeing such a tragedy. It’s just heartbreaking,” said State Police Captain John Ryan.
The seventeen-year-old juvenile was arraigned before the town of East Fishkill Court before the Honorable Brian Rudner, Town Justice, and subsequently remanded to the Dutchess County Jail in lieu of $200,000 cash bail or $400,000 bond. The defendant is due to reappear December 18, 2018, at 5 p.m. at the town of East Fishkill Court.
The sixteen-year-old is scheduled to be arraigned in the Dutchess County Youth Part this morning.
The New York State Police were also assisted by the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office. Also on scene were the Town of East Fishkill Fire and EMS. **
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*Update: Clove Branch Road has been reopened as of 8:45 p.m.*
State Police Investigators and Troopers will be in the area of Clove Branch Road and State Route 82 conducting the investigation. Clove Branch Road between State Route 82 and Cavelo Road will be closed in both directions for the duration.
