Livingston, New York – On June 29, 2023, the New York State Police from the Livingston barracks began investigating a fatal motor vehicle crash involving a house.

At approximately 1:00 a.m., Troopers were dispatched by Columbia County 911 to a residence on State Route 9 in the town of Livingston for a structure fire with two occupants.  One occupant was able to escape the flames prior to the arrival of first responders and was later transported to Albany Medical Center by Northern Dutchess Paramedics.  The second, Peter E. Lasher, age 81, was found deceased inside the residence.

While firefighters extinguished the flames a vehicle was discovered containing a single occupant which had struck the residence.  Initial investigation of the crash determined the 2022 Tesla Model X was traveling at a high rate of speed southbound on State Route 9 and left the roadway.  The vehicle struck a tree and then the residence before causing the fire.  The operator was found deceased inside the vehicle and has not yet been positively identified.

This investigation is ongoing and will be updated as new information becomes available.

Clermont, Taghkanic, Germantown, Greenport, Claverack, Ancram, and Mellenville Fire Departments all responded to the scene.