Driver treated for injury
A car headed westbound on Route 301 slammed into a house at 359 Main St. in Nelsonville the morning of Saturday, June 29, at about 9:30.
The house at 356 Main St. in Nelsonville sustained damage from a car crash Saturday, June 29. Photo by M. Turton
Robert J. Gaudreau, 59, of Garrison, the only occupant in the 1998 Subaru, told the investigating police officer that he lost consciousness while behind the wheel. The vehicle ran off the road, damaging both the house and the car. Gaudreau was cut in the face when the airbag deployed upon impact.
A neighbor, who is a nurse, happened to be passing by and tended to Gaudreau’s injuries until he was taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment. Putnam County Sheriff’s Department Spokesman Capt. William McNamara said that no charges were filed.
Debbie Brownson, renter of the house, told Philipstown.info she had been sitting along the opposite wall when the car hit the cottage and was thrown across the room. She said the house moved about 7 inches off its foundation, with cracks throughout the length of the house.
The oil tank was also moved about 10 inches off its foundation; Downey Oil checked and found no leaks. Because of exposed electrical wires, Central Hudson has shut off power to the building.
Nelsonville Building Inspector George Duncan deemed the house unfit for occupation, so Brownson has since relocated to an apartment in Cold Spring.
