Car and Bicycle Collision on U.S. Route 6 in Southeast Claims Life of Connecticut Man

Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports that a car and bicycle collision along U.S. Route 6 in Southeast today (Friday) has claimed the life of the cyclist, a man from Connecticut.

According to preliminary reports from the scene, the crash occurred at about 9:05 A.M. this morning in the two westbound lanes of the four-lane divided highway, just east of Starr Ridge Road. The car and bicycle were both headed westbound, with the bicycle travelling along the right-hand shoulder as the car was approaching and overtaking it from behind. The cyclist apparently attempted to make a U-turn, pulling from the shoulder and moving left across the road, into the path of the car. The car struck the bicycle broadside in the left-hand lane of the road.

The crash occurred in front of the offices of Brewster Medical Group. Two doctors from those offices–Dr. Frank Kessler and Dr. Matthew Kessler, who are father and son, respectively–rushed to aid the victim, and commenced CPR just seconds after the crash. A call to 911 sent Sheriff’s deputies, state troopers, paramedics and the Brewster Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance Corps to the scene.

Paramedics continued efforts to revive the gravely injured cyclist as he was rushed by ambulance to Danbury Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The identity of the deceased cyclist is being withheld at this time, pending notification of his next of kin. The driver of the car, whose identity is also being withheld at this time, was not injured.

U.S. Route 6 was closed to traffic in both directions from about 9:15 A.M. until noon, as investigators reconstructed the crash and worked to clear the scene. The investigation to determine the cause of the crash is continuing.