Route 301 Fatal Accident Update

Sheriff Kevin J. McConville reports additional information about a fatal motor vehicle accident in the Town of Carmel. On May 31, 2024, at approximately 2:10 pm, Putnam County 911 received calls for an accident on Route 301, west of Gypsy Trail Rd., where a motorcycle had struck another vehicle.

The preliminary investigation determined that a motorcycle operated by 62-year-old Peter Leist of Denville, NJ, was traveling westbound on Route 301 and had passed several vehicles by crossing over the double yellow lines when it struck head-on a small bus that was traveling in the opposite direction. 23-year-old Lauren Hoffman of Carmel operated the bus.

Mr. Leist was pronounced deceased at the scene, and the roadway was closed for approximately 3 hours while an investigation was conducted with Sheriff's personnel and members of the New York State Police Troop K Collision Reconstruction Unit.