HV Bicyclist Killed After Being Hit By Car, Driver Was High Says Police

An area man is dead after being struck by a car as he rode his bicycle. 62 year-old Alan D. Taylor of Southeast was pronounced dead at Putnam Hospital Center not long after he was hit Tuesday along Fair Street in Patterson. Police say the driver of the vehicle was high on drugs when the crash happened. Lohud.com reports that the 47 year-old Ray Vanzo of Carmel allegedly hit Taylor as Taylor rode his bike on the shoulder near the entrance to the Plaza at Clover Lake senior housing facility about a half-mile west of Route 311.

A Putnam deputy sheriff trained as a drug recognition expert examined Vanzo and determined that his ability to operate a vehicle was impaired by drugs, says Lohud.com. Ray Vanzo was charged with driving while impaired by drugs, a misdemeanor. More charges will be filed according to police. Vanzo was being held of $50,000 bail, and has been ordered to appear May 18 in Patterson Town Justice Court.