Multi-Vehicle Crash in Ulster County Sends 4 Drivers to Hospital

A speeding, inattentive driver is being blamed for a five-vehicle crash that occurred on Wednesday morning on Route 9W in Saugerties

Just after 8:30 a.m. Wednesday a tree company was working along the road, and a flagger had traffic stopped. Laura Burgher, 22, of Kingston was traveling northbound on Route 9W when she failed to to observed that traffic was stopped.

Burgher's vehicle ran into the back of a 2002 GMC Envoy operated by Keith Hines, 46, of Kingston, forcing Hine's vehicle into the back of a 2005 Honda Civic operated by Jessica Stewart, 32, of Lake Katrine, forcing Stewart's vehicle into the back end of a 2016 Honda Accord operated  Steven Scotti, 47, of Hurley, according to a press release.

The vehicle directly behind Burgher's operated by Stefen Rauschendofer, 23, of Saugerties observed the accident and tried to avoid crashing into the back of Burgher's car. Rauschendofer swerved to the right of Burgher's car, going across the shoulder, onto the embankment causing his vehicle to become airborne and flip over. The vehicle came to a stop right side up striking the first vehicle in line, the 2016 Honda. Rauschendofer was not injured.

All four operators of the first four vehicles were taken to the hospital to be treated for a varying degree of injuries, none of which were life-threatening.

Burgher was ticketed for speed not reasonable or prudent and has been sited as the primary factor of the crash.

Route 9W was closed to all vehicle for one hour in the area of the crash so police could conduct their investigation and clear the accident.