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A rollover crash on the New York State Thruway in Saugerties on Saturday (December 27) sent more than a dozen people to the hospital. At approximately 3:57 a.m., a 2016 Ford Transit livery van, driven by Michael Blue, 65, of Winchester, Virginia, left the roadway near milepost marker 100 and rolled over off the right shoulder. The van was carrying 14 adults, including Blue.
All occupants were transported to Kingston Hospital or Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck for evaluation, with injuries reported as minor. The driver, Michael Blue, was evaluated at Northern Dutchess Hospital and reported no injuries. According to the New York State Police, Blue received multiple traffic tickets, including for speeding and using an electronic device while driving. The crash is believed to have been caused by driver inattention.
Emergency responders from Ulster County, including Ulster EMS, Esopus EMS, and the Saugerties Fire Department, assisted at the scene. The investigation into the crash is ongoing, and no equipment violations were found by the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit.