Pawling Fatality Under Investigation
The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office reports the investigation into a two-car fatal crash which occurred on State Route 22 in the Village of Pawling at approximately 12:30 pm on 11/14/23.
Preliminary investigation has revealed that a 2020 GMC Terrain operated by Robert Tompkins (age 74 of Dover Plains) was traveling northbound on Route 22 when it struck a 2010 Jeep Cherokee making a left turn from Reservoir Rd onto Route 22. Mr. Tompkins was later pronounced dead at Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital, and the operator of the Jeep was transported to Vassar hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Both operators were the sole occupants of their respective vehicles.
At this time the primary factor in the crash appears to be failure to yield the right-of-way on the part of the GMC, however, the investigation is continuing by the Sheriff’s Office’s Detective Bureau and Crash Investigation Unit. If anyone was in the area of Route 22/Reservoir Rd in Pawling at approximately 12:30 pm on 11/14/23 and thinks they may have witnessed the crash itself or the events leading up to it, they are urged to contact Detective Wilber at 845-486-3826 or bwilber@dutchessny.gov. The Sheriff’s Office can also be contacted via the tipline at 845-605-2583 or dcsotips@gmail.com.
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Dutchess County Medical Examiner, the New York State Police, the Town of Pawling Fire Department, and the Empress Ambulance Service.
