Thirty-nine-year-old Matthew Ratelle of Petersburgh was struck Monday near the Barbecue Recreation Bowling Center on Route 22, just beyond the Village of Hoosick Falls. New York State Police said Ratelle was riding his bicycle northbound within the right shoulder when he was struck by a car from behind.
Police said the impact threw Ratelle onto a grassy area about 30 yards north of where he was struck. He suffered massive trauma, despite wearing a helmet, according to police.
Ratelle was initially transported to Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, Vt., before being airlifted to Albany Medical Center. He remains in critical condition in Albany, police said. Ratelle is an employee of SVMC.
The driver of the vehicle, Becky Goodermote, 37, from Hoosick Falls, left the scene of the crash without reporting it, according to police. Goodermote and her vehicle were located after a concerned family member told police that Goodermote had returned home on Monday morning with extensive damage to her vehicle that she could not explain.
Police said Goodermote has been charged leaving the scene of a serious personal injury accident, operating a vehicle while impaired by drugs, driving with a suspended registration and failure to use due care. She has already been arraigned on those charges and was remanded to the Rensselaer County Jail.
Police said other charges are pending. State Police are asking that anyone who witnessed the accident to contact the Brunswick office at 518-279-4427.
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