A 20-year-old Hyde Park man was killed Sunday night when his car left North Quaker Lane and slammed into a tree, according to county authorities.
The single-vehicle crash happened near Forest Drive and left the driver with critical injuries. He was taken to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Investigators have not yet determined why the vehicle went off the road.
Sheriff's Office: Investigation underway
In a press release, the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office said the crash occurred at about 9 p.m. and involved a 2009 Pontiac G6 driven by 20-year-old Austin Caston of Hyde Park. He was the sole occupant of the car.
The Sheriff's Detective Bureau and Crash Investigation Unit are leading the probe. The Town of Hyde Park Police Department, along with the Roosevelt and West Clinton fire departments, responded to and assisted at the scene.
Local reporting and next steps
Local outlets including Daily Voice and the Poughkeepsie Journal have reported the same basic details released by law enforcement and noted that further information about Caston’s life was not immediately available. Both outlets also reported that authorities are asking anyone who may have seen the crash or what led up to it to reach out to investigators.
Known trouble spot on CR‑16
The section of North Quaker Lane near Forest Drive has a documented history of collisions. A 2013 safety assessment by the Poughkeepsie‑Dutchess County Transportation Council found 34 crashes in the quarter‑mile corridor between 2008 and 2012. The review flagged the curve by Forest Drive as a particular hotspot and recommended steps such as trimming trees, installing additional chevron signs and reviewing speed limits.
The assessment highlighted longstanding concerns about sight lines and driving speeds on this stretch of CR‑16.
Anyone with information about Sunday night’s crash is asked to contact Detective Sansoni at 845‑867‑5647 or [email protected], or to use the Sheriff’s tip line at 845‑605‑2583. Officials say tips will be kept confidential. The investigation remains active, and more details may be released as they become available.
