DWI Crash Critically Injures Dutchess County Woman

Police and EMS personnel expressed amazement that anyone survived this horrific early morning crash in Kent last week. A young Dutchess County woman was critically injured and her dog killed in a horrific head-on crash in northern Kent, which police say was caused by the woman’s intoxicated driving.

Kent Police received a call last Thursday at 12:12am from an employee at the Hess Service Station on Route 52 at Ludingtonville Road reporting a highly intoxicated woman pumping gas into her vehicle.

Lt. Alex DiVernieri said as Officers Kevin Radovich and Thomas Carroll were responding the employee called again to advise that the woman had left the parking lot of the service station and was heading north on Route 52 towards Stormville.

A Kent PD dispatcher notified East Fishkill Police and while the officers were checking the area for the wanted auto, the Putnam 911 Dispatch Center received several calls reporting a serious personal injury crash on Farmers Mills Road in the vicinity of White Pond Road.

Lt. DiVernieri said that when the officers reached the scene they realized one of the vehicles involved was the one they had been searching for.

The 2007 Hyundai driven by Ellen DeSantis, 20, of Poughquag, struck a guardrail before crossing into the oncoming lane and slamming head-on into a Volkswagen driven by Richard Fehn, 19, of Kent.

DeSantis suffered massive head, leg, and internal injuries and was rushed by Kent FD Rescue Squad personnel to Danbury Hospital where she was admitted to intensive care.

Fehn suffered arm lacerations, but when he complained of chest pain he was taken by East Fishkill FD Rescue Squad members to St. Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie and was admitted.

Lt. DiVernieri said when the officers were checking the wreckage they found the body of the young woman’s small brown and white dog on the floor of the passenger compartment, as well as a bottle of vodka.

DeSantis was arrested for DWI and numerous vehicle and traffic law violations. She was given an appearance ticket at Danbury Hospital returnable in Kent Town Court July 28.

Farmers Mills Road in Kent was closed for several hours until the police department’s accident reconstruction team could complete its investigation.

Also assisting at the scene were members of the Putnam County Fire Police Response Team under the command of Lt. John Bodor of Patterson.