A Hyde Park man pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter in connection with a 2025 crash that killed another driver.
Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi said Richard C. Rider, 47, of Hyde Park, pleaded guilty to first-degree vehicular manslaughter and driving while ability is impaired by the combined influence of drugs, both felonies.
He entered those pleas before Dutchess County Court Judge Karen Edelman-Reyes on Aug. 4.
According to Parisi, the fatal crash happened at approximately 4:20 p.m. on Dec. 14, 2025 on Albany Post Road near Huyler Drive in the Town of Hyde Park.
An investigation determined Rider, while operating a Ford F-150 pickup truck, crossed into the southbound lane of traffic and struck a Honda Accord head-on, causing the death of Alijah M. Johnson.
A crash reconstruction investigation established that Rider failed to maintain his lane of travel and took no evasive action in the five seconds leading up to the collision.
Toxicological analysis of Rider’s blood revealed the presence of multiple impairing substances, including Clonazepam, Diazepam, Nordiazepam, Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Methadone.
“This guilty plea holds Richard Rider accountable for the devastating consequences of choosing to get behind the wheel while impaired by drugs,” Parisi said in a statement released by his office. “One reckless decision claimed the life of Alijah Johnson and forever changed the lives of his loved ones.”
Rider was represented by the Dutchess County Public Defender’s office. A representative of that office could not immediately be reached for comment.
As part of his plea agreement, Rider was promised a sentence of 6 to 12 years in state prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 10.
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 Poughkeepsie Journal: Hyde Park man pleads guilty to vehicular manslaughter
Reporting by Mike Randall, Poughkeepsie Journal / Poughkeepsie Journal
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By Mike Randall, Poughkeepsie Journal | USA TODAY Network
