East Fishkill police officer dies in crash on Taconic State Parkway
EAST FISHKILL, N.Y. -- There is new information on the death of a police officer in Dutchess County.
Investigators believe Monday's rainy weather played a role in the crash that killed Officer Dan Didato, 47, a 19-year veteran of the East Fishkill Police Department.
The flag was at half staff and there was a growing collection of flowers outside the department on Tuesday. The community is mourning the loss of a dedicated public servant.
"Dan was a good man, a decent man. The best characteristic of his was his kindness," Supervisor Nick D'Alessandro said.
D'Alessandro said the town is feeling profound grief.
During the heavy rain on Monday afternoon, a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle just steps from the police station. Officer Didato was dispatched to Westchester Medical Center to follow up with the victim.
Around 6 p.m., his police car slid off the Taconic State Parkway just south of Interstate 84 and hit a tree. Didato was fatally injured. Investigators believe the wet road was a factor in the single-car crash.
"Dan grew up here in this town. His parents still live in this town. I know his parents. They're good good people and we're gonna rally around them, support them, do whatever we can to make sure they're going to be okay," D'Allesandro said.
Didato is also survived by a brother, Mark, a recently retired detective with the town police.
The accident has shaken the department. Calls for service on Tuesday were handled by Dutchess County, giving East Fishkill cops a day to grieve the sudden loss of a beloved colleague.