Ghent man flown to Albany Med after accident | Columbia County

William Cooley, 51, of Ghent, suffered a head injury in the accident. The other driver, Samuel Fairall, 20, of Austerlitz, was taken to Columbia Memorial Health for evaluation, Lowman said.

At approximately 5:18 p.m., West Ghent Fire Company and Greenport Rescue Squad were dispatched by Columbia County 911 to Route 66, south of Tipple Road, after receiving reports of a two-car accident.

When emergency responders arrived on scene, Cooley was found in his vehicle with a head injury. Paramedics and firefighters tried to free him from the car. He was placed in a waiting ambulance that was taken to the Columbia County Airport to be transferred to a waiting Life Net helicopter.

Route 66 was closed between Tipple Road and Bender Boulevard until the accident was resolved.

A small group of onlookers observes the work of the paramedics.

The Ghent Fire Department responded as part of mutual aid to help with traffic control.

The Stottville Fire Department was asked to set up the landing zone at the Columbia County Airport.

Both cars were towed from the scene of the accident.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation, Lowman said.

Route 66 was reopened and all firefighters were back on duty by 6:30 p.m