Red Hook man dies as medical emergency leads to multicar crash

When first responders arrived on the scene, they found the driver, Peter Rathjen, unconscious and unresponsive.

News 12 Staff

Feb 2, 2024, 1:14 PM

Updated 256 days ago

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A Red Hook man has died after suffering a medical emergency while driving and crashing into six cars, according to Red Hook Police.
The incident occurred shortly after 5 p.m. last Friday at the intersection of South Broadway and East Market Street.
When first responders arrived on the scene, they found the driver, Peter Rathjen, unconscious and unresponsive.
He was taken to Northern Dutchess Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police determined that the 56-year-old had suffered a major medical emergency, causing him to hit five cars on South Broadway and then another on East Market Street.
A 67-year-old Red Hook man driving one of those cars at the time suffered head and neck injuries and was taken to Vassar Brothers Medical Center.