NEWS

Arrest made in Amenia fatal hit-and-run

Irwin M. Goldberg
Poughkeepsie Journal

A Kent, Connecticut man is in jail, charged with leaving the scene of a fatal auto accident in Amenia that killed Concetta Eastman of Copake, Columbia County March 19.

Randy Miles, 57, turned himself in to Dutchess County Sheriff's Office detectives Tuesday, according to a news release from Capt. John Watterson.

Miles was interviewed in Connecticut Monday by Connecticut State Police and detectives from the Sheriff's Office, Watterson said. The vehicle involved in the crash, a dark-colored Dodge pickup truck, is registered to Miles, he said.

(Photo: Dutchess County Sheriff's Office)

The cause of the crash is still under investigation, Watterson said. All possible causes are being examined, he said, including whether or not alcohol was involved.

Miles is not believed to have prior convictions, according to Watterson.

Miles was arraigned in Town of Amenia Court on a class D felony and sent to Dutchess County Jail on $25,000 bail or $50,000 bond. The investigation is continuing and additional charges are possible, the release said.

Eastman was struck on Bog Hollow Road near the Connecticut border, according to the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office. She was entering her vehicle, which was parked on the edge of the road, at the time of the crash.

She was badly injured when police arrived and taken to Sharon Hospital in Connecticut, where she later died, police said.

The vehicle authorities believe to be involved in the crash was located in Kent Saturday, but Miles couldn't be located until Monday.

Watterson said the arrest came through the work of the Sheriff's Office Detective Bureau and Crash Investigation Unit, the Dutchess County District Attorney's Office, information provided through the tipline and Connecticut State Police.

Mark Gerlach contributed to this report. Irwin M. Goldberg: igoldberg@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4808, Twitter: @pjdiged