WAPPINGERS FALLS – A body suspected to be that of a man reported missing to law enforcement Tuesday evening was recovered from the Hudson River on Wednesday morning.
On Tuesday, September 22 at approximately 7 p.m. the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office was notified by family members that their relative, 26-year-old Andrew Tyler Neckles, had not returned from boating on the Hudson River on Sunday, September 20.
His body, in his small rowboat with a motor, was discovered Wednesday morning, near the western shore of the river. The vessel was towed back to White’s Marina where law enforcement officials secured the body for transfer to the Dutchess County Medical Examiner’s Office, which will investigate the cause of death and provide a positive identity.
The boat was trailered from the scene by the sheriff’s office.
Captain John Waterson recounted the search, saying that the “Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol Unit responded to the scene to conduct a search of the river, along with patrol units for a ground search of the shore, however; Mr. Neckles was not located. The search, which focused on the area of the river near the Town of Wappinger, ended at approximately midnight and resumed again on Tuesday.”
Waterson said the incident remains under investigation.
The sheriff’s investigation into the death of the man found on the river is being assisted by the United States Coast Guard and the Dutchess County Medical Examiner’s Office.
A collision between a northbound Metro-North passenger train and a Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office SUV that was parked near the train tracks in Chelsea was related to the search for Mr. Neckles. The collision occurred just before midnight on Tuesday. The accident is under investigation by the sheriff’s office and Metro-North Police.
Captain Waterson said, “A patrol deputy inadvertently placed his vehicle too close to the tracks, at which time it was sideswiped by a passing northbound Metro-North train. Neither the deputy nor the train passengers were injured during the crash, which is under investigation by the sheriff’s office and Metro-North Police.”
The crash did substantial damage to the SUV and ripped air lines from the train, forcing another train to arrive and take the passengers from the damaged train to another, to continue to Poughkeepsie.
NEWS STORY & PHOTO PROVIDED BY: Mid Hudson News -www.midhudsonnews.com