HYDE PARK – Town police officers arrested Hyde Park resident Richard Rider, 46, early Thursday morning for his role in a December accident on Route 9 in Hyde Park that claimed the life of Alijah Johnson, 28.
Rider was charged with vehicular homicide, DWI-drugs, and failure to keep right. He was arraigned and entered a plea of not guilty before Hyde Park Justice Michael Plass, while the victim’s family members sat in the gallery.
Despite having five previous DWI/DWAI arrests, Rider had a valid driver’s license that was suspended at Thursday’s arraignment.
Rider, who also served a prison sentence for a burglary conviction, was allegedly driving his truck south on Route 9 (Albany Post Road) in Hyde Park on December 14, 2025, at approximately 4:20 p.m., when he crossed the centerline and collided head-on with Johnson’s Honda Accord. Both drivers were trapped in their vehicles, and first responders worked to extricate both of them. Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene, while Rider was transported to a hospital for additional treatment.
The case is expected to go to the Dutchess County Grand Jury next week for review.
Because of a previous felony conviction, Rider is facing up to 15 years in prison if convicted of vehicular homicide because of his DWI history.
Rider was remanded to the Dutchess County Jail after the prosecutor from the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office asked for bail to be set at $500,000 cash, $1 million bond, or $2 million partially-secured, and Judge Plass agreed.
“The Town of Hyde Park Police Detective Bureau worked tirelessly on this case. Following receipt of toxicology results from Rider’s blood sample, investigators filed the above charges,” said Hyde Park Police Chief Robert Benson.
Following the arraignment, Chief Benson also said, “The Town of Hyde Park Police Department would like to thank the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office, the New York State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit, the New York State Police Laboratory, and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision for their assistance and cooperation in this investigation. Their combined efforts were instrumental in bringing justice to the family of Alijah M. Johnson.”
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