Strange: Pulled over by trooper, man shoots self in head on Thruway

[JonInNY]

This happened yesterday, just down the road from me.

Pulled over by trooper, man shoots self in head on Thruway - The Daily Freeman News: Serving the Hudson Valley

NEW PALTZ — A man was in critical condition Monday evening after shooting himself in the head while in a stopped vehicle on the Thruway, according to state police.

Investigators at the state police barracks in Highland said the 48-year-old man, who was alone in the vehicle, was northbound on the highway, just north of Exit 18 (New Paltz), when he fired a single bullet into his head after being pulled over by a trooper.

Investigators did not identify the man or say why he had been pulled over. They also did not say what might have precipitated the shooting or what type of gun was used.

The vehicle reportedly was a blue Jeep.

The incident happened about 3:30 p.m. Monday near mile marker 76 on the Thruway and brought northbound traffic to a standstill.

The gunshot victim was flown from the scene in a Stat Flight medical helicopter about an hour later and was in critical condition Monday evening in the Intensive Care Unit at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, police said.

Kevin Maguire, assistant chief of the New Paltz Fire Department, said about 12 firefighters responded to the scene to set up the landing zone for the helicopter.

He said the helicopter was able to touch down “pretty much right at” the site of the incident.

Northbound traffic in the short stretch between the New Paltz exit and the shooting scene was stopped for about 90 minutes during the investigation. Vehicles headed north from points south of New Paltz were diverted off the highway at the New Paltz exit.

Southbound traffic was not affected.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[retsupt99]

Who knows...there could possibly be a blue jeep for sale that just needs a good 'detailing'...

[PastorPack]

Who knows...there could possibly be a blue jeep for sale that just needs a good 'detailing'...

Hey, does that show up on the CarFax report? Or is that what they mean when they say, "It's a JEEP thing, you wouldn't understand?"

[Bunny]

Wow, that is weird! Isn't that right between Kingston and New Paltz? We always said there's something very "Stephen King" about some of the folks in that area. Sad though, but not all that surprising.

[JonInNY]

Wow, that is weird! Isn't that right between Kingston and New Paltz? We always said there's something very "Stephen King" about some of the folks in that area. Sad though, but not all that surprising.

Hey, I'm from that area! No fair! Yes, it's between Kingston and New Paltz.

[JOHNSMITH]

Sad story. I feel sorry for the LEO as well, that sort of thing is going to be with him for a long time.

[grady]

Just a wild guess: maybe he didn't want to go back to prison.

[Bunny]

"some" of the folks, Jon...not you :) We lived in Shandaken. SCARY stories there. I still have nightmares.

[JonInNY]

"some" of the folks, Jon...not you :) We lived in Shandaken. SCARY stories there. I still have nightmares.

Just kidding, I didn't take it personally. I can't imagine though what could be scary up in Shandaken. All they have up there is Bellayre Mountain for skiing!

[JonInNY]

Wounded driver remains critical - The Daily Freeman News: Serving the Hudson Valley since 1871(DailyFreeman.com)

NEW PALTZ — The 48-year-old man who shot himself in the head during a traffic stop on the Thruway remained in critical condition on Tuesday, according to state police.

Lt. Pierce Gallagher declined to identify the man but said he was from Queensbury, near Glens Falls.

The man shot himself once with a .45-caliber handgun on Monday after being pulled over by a state trooper for driving erratically, Gallagher said. The incident happened about 3:30 p.m. on the northbound side of the Thruway, just north of the New Paltz exit.

Gallagher said the shooting happened after the man gave the trooper his driver’s license and registration and while the trooper was in his cruiser processing the information.

Gallagher said the gun, which police recovered at the scene, was purchased legally and that the driver had a permit for the weapon.

It remained unclear why the driver shot himself. The lieutenant said the man was not wanted for any crimes and that no illegal drugs were found in the vehicle.

The vehicle reportedly was a blue Jeep.

The man was flown by helicopter to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, where he remained on Tuesday.

Northbound Thruway traffic leading up to the shooting site was stopped for more than an hour after the incident.

[Reborn]

Yikes..........just when you think things can't get any stranger...

[Supertac45]

Just a wild guess: maybe he didn't want to go back to prison.

That would be my guess also.

[johnsonabq]

Originally Posted by grady View Post
Just a wild guess: maybe he didn't want to go back to prison.

That update said... The lieutenant said the man was not wanted for any crimes and that no illegal drugs were found in the vehicle.

Bee-zar

[imatt]

Thank goodness he didn't try to take the cop with him.

[GreenHorn]

I wonder if he just got laid off from work?
Or maybe facing a financial crisis at home?
Or just found out his wife is leaving him?