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Anthony Stoddard is charged with second-degree felony vehicular assault and misdemeanor driving while impaired by drugs. He was injured in the crash, along with a third passenger.
After being treated in the hospital, Stoddard was released on appearance tickets for a future court date, officials said.
Dutchess County officials said the 2004 Honda Civic he was driving east on Route 308 left the road and struck a traffic light pole near the Route 199 intersection about 7:30 a.m. Thursday. Dominic Russo of Pine Plains had to be extricated and airlifted to Albany Medical Center with serious injuries, sheriff's officials said.
Stoddard and William Amato, 25, of Hudson, were taken to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital with minor injuries, officials said. Dutchess County sheriff's officials said they are continuing to investigate the crash, but now they attribute it to alleged drug use and fatigue.
Several agencies responded to the crash along with Dutchess County, including New York State Police, Northern Dutchess Paramedics, and the Milan, Rhinebeck and Red Hook fire departments. Route 199 was closed for more than an hour Thursday morning following the crash, according to The Poughkeepsie Journal.
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