Auto Accident - Reported car fire with persons trapped - Route 9 I.A.O. Poughkeepsie Plaza - Arlington Fire District

Town of Poughkeepsie N.Y. - At 12:39 am on Saturday July 21, 2007, the Arlington Fire Department was dispatched for an auto accident with a car on fire and persons trapped on Route 9 in the area of the Poughkeepsie Plaza. During their response, responding Arlington units were advised by Dutchess County 911 that additional callers confirm that there was one person trapped and the car was on fire. The Town of Poughkeepsie Police arrived a short time later and advised Dutchess County 911 the driver of the vehicle was now out, and the vehicle was upside-down and on fire in the parking lot of the Poughkeepsie Plaza. Upon Arlington's arrival, they extinguished a small fire and their Medics evaluated the driver who appeared uninjured. Apparently the driver was traveling at a high rate of speed northbound on Route 9 and lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle left the roadway hitting traffic signs, a pedestrian control device, and a tree which was sheared off at its base before coming to a rest upside-down in the plaza lot. The force of the multiple impacts did major damage to the vehicle which resulted in the fire and caused the vehicle to leak fluids. After the fire was extinguished and driver was treated, Firefighters continued to work to secure the vehicle and absorb spilled fluids from the pavement. The accident was investigated by the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department.