Photos: Car collides with New York state trooper's vehicle in Wilton, investigation continues Updated 3:25 p.m.

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WILTON — New York State Police have released further details about the accident that occurred Monday afternoon that sent one State Trooper and another driver to the hospital.

Trooper Mathew Spring from the Wilton Barracks and Alexander Sarnack, 85, of Greylock Drive were both discharged from the hospital Monday after the accident.

At approximately 3:39 p.m. Spring was driving northbound on the 45-mile-per-hour Northern Pines Road in Wilton, and Sarnack was traveling in the opposite direction taking a left onto Lonesome Pines Trail. According to New York State Trooper spokesperson Maureen Tuffy, Sarnack took a left turn in front of the officer, causing the accident.

Another vehicle, a 2009 Porsche, was behind Sarnack driven by Steven Rucinski, 53, of Colombine Drive in Glenmont, but the car was not damaged in the accident and Rucinski was not injured.

Sarnack was transported to Saratoga Hospital for a forehead contusion and a right arm fracture and Spring was suffering from minor injures.

The accident remains under investigation and no tickets have been issued yet, but the official cause of the accident is listed as Sarnack’s “failure to yield at left turn.”

—By Lucian McCarty

 

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Click thumbnails to enlarge

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WILTON — New York State Police have released further details about the accident that occurred Monday afternoon that sent one State Trooper and another driver to the hospital.

Trooper Mathew Spring from the Wilton Barracks and Alexander Sarnack, 85, of Greylock Drive were both discharged from the hospital Monday after the accident.

At approximately 3:39 p.m. Spring was driving northbound on the 45-mile-per-hour Northern Pines Road in Wilton, and Sarnack was traveling in the opposite direction taking a left onto Lonesome Pines Trail. According to New York State Trooper spokesperson Maureen Tuffy, Sarnack took a left turn in front of the officer, causing the accident.

Another vehicle, a 2009 Porsche, was behind Sarnack driven by Steven Rucinski, 53, of Colombine Drive in Glenmont, but the car was not damaged in the accident and Rucinski was not injured.

Sarnack was transported to Saratoga Hospital for a forehead contusion and a right arm fracture and Spring was suffering from minor injures.

The accident remains under investigation and no tickets have been issued yet, but the official cause of the accident is listed as Sarnack’s “failure to yield at left turn.”

—By Lucian McCarty

 

Comments

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of saratogian.com.

cb wrote on May 31, 2011 11:22 AM:

" KUDOOS to the Police Officer. He took a bad hit, was hurt, and still doing his job. He should be commended. "

Cmdr Zero wrote on May 31, 2011 2:41 PM:

" That should buff right out. "

kevin33 wrote on May 31, 2011 4:56 PM:

" i wonder if the trooper was really going 45 mph? "

get real wrote on May 31, 2011 5:03 PM:

" the trooper was going to do a hit and run, but the car was not able to be driven! LOL

Just a little humor, don't get your feathers ruffled. "

cb wrote on May 31, 2011 5:11 PM:

" I was going to ignore stupid comments, but my blood started to boil and I will respond with words I don't like to see or use in this venue.
The Cop was hurt, he was staggering, and he continued to do his job. CZ you have outdone yourself and you should be ashamed. You are stupid, ignorant, and inconsiderate.
My son and I were on the scene almost immediately after the collision. It was not a pretty sight and people were seriously injured. "

sunshine wrote on May 31, 2011 7:13 PM:

" Before I say what I'm about to say, it should be noted that I have an elderly grandmother and senior parents, not to mention the fact that I will (undoubtedly) be elderly myself someday.

How many near-death accidents will it take before we acknowledge the fact that elderly drivers need to be tested, monitored and possibly restricted?

Recall some major accidents in recent year: elderly woman taking a car and ramming into a County Waste worker, pinning him to the truck with major injuries to his extremities; elderly man turning into the path of a motorcyclist at Stone Church Rd. and killing him; elderly woman hitting the gas and ramming into 4 parked cars in a Price Chopper parking lot in Schenectady just a couple weeks ago. What if someone with a child in their arms was getting in or out of one of those cars, or walking in the parking lot? They could have been killed!

I completely appreciate the fact that everyone is entitled to dignity and independence as they age, but we have to manage those rights with a dose of realism.

Teenagers are restricted because they're inexperienced drivers, so they don't react appropriately. We've banned cell phones because they distract--rightfully so! Impairment caused by alcohol and drugs is outlawed, because it's deadly! But aren't hearing loss, poor eyesight and delayed reflexes "impairments"? In fact, aren't those conditions similar to alcohol, drug or sleep impairment? Just because they're natural results of the aging process doesn't mean they're any less deadly behind the wheel.

My elderly grandmother has accepted the fact she can't drive like she used to. But it took an accident to bring her to that realization--and fortunately, not a serious one.

It's time to have a serious and thoughtful discussion about this issue. "

get real wrote on Jun 1, 2011 5:11 AM:

" I agree with Sunshine, there definitely needs to be more thought given to this. My grandmother drove way past when she should have stopped and finally gave up her license when she got on the northway going the wrong way. Thankfully no one was hurt but it could have been disastrous. My grandfather lost his license when he was in his early 90's when he caused an accident while making a left hand turn. My parents are now in their mid 70's and I am starting to worry about them driving as well. Something definitely needs to be done. "

Cmdr Zero wrote on Jun 1, 2011 6:55 AM:

" CZ you have outdone yourself and you should be ashamed. You are stupid, ignorant, and inconsiderate.

Oh, boo-hoo-hoo.
Thanks for the name calling cb.
Sorry you got your knickers in such a knot.

Grow a thicker skin and I`ll try to be more considerate of your feelings in the future. "

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