| Columbia County Sheriff's Office |
David W. Harrison, Jr., SHERIFF James R. Sweet, UNDERSHERIFF
| Copyright ©2006 Columbia County Sheriff's Office, Hudson, NY 12534 |
GHENT VOL FIREFIGHTER SERIOUSLY INJURED IN ACCIDENT
OCTOBER 19, 2010
GHENT, NY – Columbia County Sheriff David W. Harrison, Jr. reports that Deputy Sheriff’s are investigating a
serious automobile crash on Route 66 at the intersection with Water Street in the Town of Ghent.
William Akin, 52 years of age from Ghent, NY was responding as a volunteer firefighter with the Ghent Fire
Company to an emergency call when his vehicle went off the road and crashed.
Akin has been transported to the Columbia Memorial Hospital in serious condition by the Chatham Rescue Squad.
The investigation is continuing and no further information is available at this time.
Volunteer Fireman Dies as a result of
Automobile Crash responding to an Emergency Call
OCTOBER 19, 2010
GHENT, NY – Columbia County Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. reports that 52 year old William Akin, a Firefighter with
the Ghent Fire Company, died after being involved in an accident while responding in his private vehicle to an
emergency call at approximately 9:11pm on Tuesday October 19th.
The accident occurred on New York State Rt 66 at the intersection with Water Street in the Town of Ghent. Mr.
Akin was responding to a call in his 2001 GMC pick-up truck after his fire company was dispatched to another
accident a few miles south of Water Street on Route 66. The original call was for an accident that turned out to be
less serious.
Mr. Akin struck a utility pole just off of Rt 66 at the intersection with Water Street. Power lines and part of the power
pole came down on top of his vehicle. He was removed from his vehicle by members of the Ghent Fire Company
assisted by the Chatham Fire Department and transported to the Columbia Memorial Hospital by the Chatham
Rescue Squad where he was pronounced dead. There were no other injuries and no one else was in the vehicle
with Mr. Akin at the time of the accident. At this time it is unknown why Mr. Akin ran off of Rt 66 and struck the pole,
however the possibility of a medical problem is being investigated. Residents in the Ghent/Mellenville area are
without electrical power as a result of the accident. NYSEG is on the scene.
An Autopsy will be held later today at St Peters hospital in Albany.
Sheriff Harrison, Captain David Bartlett and Senior Investigator Kevin Skype are among the members of the Sheriff’
s Office on scene. The Sheriff’s Office Incident/Accident Scene Investigation Unit also responded to the scene.
The NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control and Columbia County Fire Coordinator responded to the scene as
well. Columbia County Coroner Angelo Nero is investigating with the Sheriff’s Office and the NYS Police assisted at
the scene.
OCTOBER 19, 2010
GHENT, NY – Columbia County Sheriff David W. Harrison, Jr. reports that Deputy Sheriff’s are investigating a
serious automobile crash on Route 66 at the intersection with Water Street in the Town of Ghent.
William Akin, 52 years of age from Ghent, NY was responding as a volunteer firefighter with the Ghent Fire
Company to an emergency call when his vehicle went off the road and crashed.
Akin has been transported to the Columbia Memorial Hospital in serious condition by the Chatham Rescue Squad.
The investigation is continuing and no further information is available at this time.
Volunteer Fireman Dies as a result of
Automobile Crash responding to an Emergency Call
OCTOBER 19, 2010
GHENT, NY – Columbia County Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. reports that 52 year old William Akin, a Firefighter with
the Ghent Fire Company, died after being involved in an accident while responding in his private vehicle to an
emergency call at approximately 9:11pm on Tuesday October 19th.
The accident occurred on New York State Rt 66 at the intersection with Water Street in the Town of Ghent. Mr.
Akin was responding to a call in his 2001 GMC pick-up truck after his fire company was dispatched to another
accident a few miles south of Water Street on Route 66. The original call was for an accident that turned out to be
less serious.
Mr. Akin struck a utility pole just off of Rt 66 at the intersection with Water Street. Power lines and part of the power
pole came down on top of his vehicle. He was removed from his vehicle by members of the Ghent Fire Company
assisted by the Chatham Fire Department and transported to the Columbia Memorial Hospital by the Chatham
Rescue Squad where he was pronounced dead. There were no other injuries and no one else was in the vehicle
with Mr. Akin at the time of the accident. At this time it is unknown why Mr. Akin ran off of Rt 66 and struck the pole,
however the possibility of a medical problem is being investigated. Residents in the Ghent/Mellenville area are
without electrical power as a result of the accident. NYSEG is on the scene.
An Autopsy will be held later today at St Peters hospital in Albany.
Sheriff Harrison, Captain David Bartlett and Senior Investigator Kevin Skype are among the members of the Sheriff’
s Office on scene. The Sheriff’s Office Incident/Accident Scene Investigation Unit also responded to the scene.
The NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control and Columbia County Fire Coordinator responded to the scene as
well. Columbia County Coroner Angelo Nero is investigating with the Sheriff’s Office and the NYS Police assisted at
the scene.