Driver Fleeing Stabbing Involved in Fatal Mid-Hudson Bridge Accident, Police Say

Update: 2:30 p.m.: This story has been updated to add the names of the deceased and more information into the fatal crash. 

It’s believed that a car that fled a Dutchess County stabbing caused the fatal Mid-Hudson Bridge two-car accident.

On Wednesday around 2:30 a.m., a City of Poughkeepsie police officer noticed a car traveling west on Mansion Street at a high rate of speed while the officer was getting gas at the Mobil gas station across from City Hall in the City of Poughkeepsie.

Due to road conditions and the officer being out of his vehicle, he was unable to follow the vehicle. The vehicle then made a left onto Columbus Drive going south towards the Mid-Hudson Bridge, police say.

A short time later, Poughkeepsie 911 received a call reporting a woman was stabbed in front of 130 Mansion Street. The same officer from the Mobil Gas station responded and found a 39-year-old Hyde Park woman with a stab wound to her neck.

She was transported to a local hospital where she underwent surgery and is listed in very critical condition, officials say.

A description of the vehicle used by the person who was seen fleeing the stabbing matched the vehicle observed by the officer heading towards the Mid-Hudson Bridge, police say.

A short time after the stabbing was reported, a very serious two-car motor vehicle accident was reported just onto the Ulster side of the Mid-Hudson Bridge.

According to City of Poughkeepsie police, it’s believed that the vehicle that fled the stabbing and the vehicle involved in the fatal motor vehicle accident are the same.

Two people were killed in the car crash that occurred around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday.

A State Police investigation revealed that 2013 Nissan Altima driven west by 31-year-old Steven A. Vaughan of Poughkeepsie crossed the dividing barrier and struck a 2008 Ford Focus driven by 50-year-old Mark Ashby of Accord in the eastbound lane.

Both Vaughan and Ashby were deceased at the scene.

A passenger of the Ford Focus was transported to Westchester Medical Center with facial and internal injuries.

State Police confirmed that Vaughn was allegedly involved in a stabbing incident in the City of Poughkeepsie. The stabbing is still under investigation.

The accident investigation caused the Mid-Hudson Bridge to be shut-down, in both directions, for most of the Wednesday morning commute.

We will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.