Two people were killed in separate crashes within about 30 minutes of each other on state Route 209 in Ulster County as the Labor Day weekend was coming to a close on Sept. 1.
The first crash happened just after 5:30 p.m. on Route 209 in the town of Hurley.
According to state police, a preliminary investigation revealed a 2019 Mercedes-Benz driven by Hawanatu I. Deen-Ayers, 47, of Middletown, was traveling south on the road, while a 2021 Ford pickup truck driven by David W. Lincoln, 60, of Accord, was northbound.
Troopers said Deen-Ayers attempted to pass an uninvolved vehicle by crossing over the broken yellow center line into the northbound lane. Lincoln’s pickup truck was approaching at the same time.
In an effort to avoid a collision, Lincoln maneuvered his pickup truck onto the eastern shoulder. However, the Mercedes-Benz also entered the eastern shoulder, and it hit the Ford pickup truck head on, state police said.
All occupants of both vehicles were able to exit them, except for Sierra Fatima Koren Thornton, 25, of Middletown, who was trapped inside the Mercedes-Benz.
Thornton had to be extricated by emergency responders. She was taken to HealthAlliance Hospital in Kingston, where she died from her injuries.
Deen-Ayers, Lincoln and an unidentified 63-year-old female passenger of the Ford pickup truck were all taken to the Mary’s Avenue campus of HealthAlliance Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Troopers said their investigation of the crash is continuing.
Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to call state police in Middletown at 845-344-5300 and reference case number NY2500814897.
About 30 minutes after the crash, a Kerhonkson man was killed in a motorcycle crash on the same road in the town of Rochester.
According to state police, a preliminary investigation revealed a 2003 Harley-Davidson motorcycle operated by Timothy Avery, 58, of Kerhonkson, was traveling south on state Route 209 when, for unknown reasons, it exited the highway on the western shoulder and went into a wooded area.
Avery was pronounced dead at the scene.
Troopers said their investigation into the crash is continuing.
Anyone who witnessed that crash is asked to call state police in Middletown at 845-344-5300 and reference case number NY2500815795.
Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record and the Poughkeepsie Journal. Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com.
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Two people killed in Labor Day crashes on state Route 209 in Ulster County
Reporting by Mike Randall, Middletown Times Herald- Record / Times Herald-Record
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