The scene of the crash.

By Michael Mashburn From Daily Voice

A 74-year-old man died after his Subaru struck a pickup truck hauling an excavator on a Putnam County highway, triggering a multi-vehicle crash.

The collision happened around 9:15 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, on Route 301 near Smokey Hollow Court in Carmel, according to Carmel Police.

A preliminary investigation found that a Subaru Impreza driven by Vito Planamento was traveling eastbound when it rounded a curve and collided with a pickup truck and trailer carrying an excavator.

Planamento, of rewster, suffered serious injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died, police said.

The impact caused a secondary crash involving two additional vehicles. One of the other drivers had minor injuries.

Route 301 was closed for several hours between Gipsy Trail Road and Dixon Road while officers and emergency crews worked at the scene. Unsafe speed appears to be a contributing factor, police said, though the investigation remains ongoing.

Multiple agencies assisted, including the Town of Kent Police, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services, New York State Police, Putnam County Fire Police, Carmel EMS, Carmel Fire Department, NYSDOT, and LifeNet.

Additional details about Planamento’s life were not immediately available. Loved ones are invited to share a statement, funeral details, and/or photos by emailing bcrnic@dailyvoice.com.