A Saturday drive through Pleasant Valley turned tragic when a three-wheeled motorcycle crossed the double-yellow center line and hit a car head-on at Salt Point Turnpike and Van Wagner Road, killing the rider. Emergency crews rushed the 59-year-old Millbrook man to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The people inside the other vehicle were not injured, and troopers say the crash is still under investigation.
According to the New York State Police, the rider was identified as William Coulston, 59, of Millbrook. Troopers were dispatched to the intersection at about 2:45 p.m. Saturday and are continuing their probe into what went wrong on that stretch of road.
Crash Details And Emergency Response
News10 ABC reports that Coulston's three-wheeled motorcycle crossed the center line and slammed head-on into a Mercedes-Benz at the intersection of Salt Point Turnpike and Van Wagner Road. Local emergency crews shut down the roadway while state troopers documented the scene and arranged transport for Coulston to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Why Motorcycle Crashes Are So Often Deadly
Motorcyclists, including riders on three-wheeled cycles, have far less physical protection than people in passenger cars. When there is a head-on collision, that lack of a protective shell can turn a split-second mistake into a fatal impact.
Federal data show motorcyclist deaths have remained stubbornly high in recent years. Riders make up a disproportionate share of traffic fatalities nationwide, according to the NHTSA.
Investigation Ongoing
State police told News10 ABC that the investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing and that troopers are asking anyone with information to contact Troop K. No charges have been announced.
