71-year-old woman dies in Grand Gorge crash

A 71-year-old woman was killed and her husband was injured in a head-on collision with a 19-year-old Prattsville man who was arrested for driving while intoxicated in the Delaware County hamlet of Grand Gorge on Sunday, June 7, police say.

The crash occurred at 5:48 p.m. on Route 23, according to a press release from the New York State Police.

Nineteen-year-old Thomas M. Schmiedel was driving east in a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado when he moved into the westbound lane where 71-year-old Elvira Vogt was driving a 2010 Toyota RAV4 west, police say.

Elvira Vogt died at the scene, police say. Her husband, 71-year-old Robert J. Vogt, was in the passenger's seat at the time of the crash and suffered a broken arm and other injuries. He was transported to Albany Medical Center, according to the press release.

Schmiedel sustained internal injuries and was taken to A.O. Fox Hospital and then Bassett Hospital. He was arrested for driving while intoxicated, police say, although the results of a blood alcohol test are pending. 

Eighteen-year-old Tyler O. Hoyt of Maplecrest was a passenger in Schmiedel's car at the time of the crash. He was not injured, police say. 

Update, 6/11/15: Thomas M. Schmiedel was charged with vehicular manslaughter and assault, both felonies, on Wednesday, June 10 for his role in the crash, according to the New York State Police. He was arraigned in the town of Roxbury Court and was released to his family. His next court date is on July 1, 2015, police say. 

Topics: