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Driver Rescued After Hitting Pole, Landing In Swamp 40 Feet Away From Hudson Valley Road

Firefighters had to navigate their way through frigid water after a car crashed into a pole and landed in a swamp 40 feet off a Hudson Valley road, knocking down live power lines in the process. 

A driver had to be rescued from their vehicle after crashing into a pole and landing in a swamp off of Haviland Hollow Road in Patterson, knocking down live wires in the process. 

A driver had to be rescued from their vehicle after crashing into a pole and landing in a swamp off of Haviland Hollow Road in Patterson, knocking down live wires in the process. 

Photo Credit: Patterson Fire Dept. No.1, Inc/Joey Nickischer

The crash happened in Putnam County on Monday, Jan. 1 just before 10:30 p.m., when a car traveling west on Haviland Hollow Road in Patterson failed to navigate a curve in the road and hit a telephone pole before landing in a swamp, according to the Patterson Fire Department. 

Arriving crews found the driver stuck in the mangled car, which was surrounded by water. To rescue them, Firefighter Albert Rossi made use of a ladder to bridge the gap over the water while  Lieutenant Jesse Greco put on an ice rescue suit and entered the cold swamp to reach the car. 

The rescue was made more complicated by the downed telephone pole and live power line that partially blocked access to the swamp and made access to Haviland Hollow Road difficult, according to the department.

Eventually, the driver was successfully removed from the car and no other passengers were found inside. The extent of their injuries was not revealed by the department.

Crews from NYSEG later arrived to disconnect the live wires, remove them from the road, and repair the downed pole. 

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