People tend to blame younger people for fender-benders and near-misses, but that doesn’t mean the hit-and-run of a neighborhood pet in October was the fault of a student driver.

Traffic is always ongoing no matter where you are, what time it is, or how the weather is. Right here in Rhinebeck, the traffic around the Lions Club Mini Park can be incredibly hazardous at times, with drivers ranging from students who just got their licenses to busy adults who have been on the road for years.

Just before the start of school, on October 3rd , someone committed a hit and run on Arnett Road. A beloved cat was killed by a passing car.

RHS Sophomore Eleanor Butler, the owner of the ten-year-old cat, was kind enough to speak to Rhinebeck Reality. Her response to our investigation was of course the most important one because we learned the feelings of the people most closely affected by this hit and run.

This was a very unfortunate coincidence, as the same thing happened to Eleanor previously two years ago. Around the same time of year, two years ago, another one of Eleanor’s cats was struck by an ongoing car.

Concerning both hit-and-run crimes, Eleanor stated: “It was freaky to have the same thing happen just two years apart.”  

Eleanor also shared her opinion on local traffic in general, stating “I always walk to school, and people drive way too fast.”  

We also had the opportunity to interview SSR Officer Beth Imperato about driving safety in our school zone. She said: “Stop texting. No cell phone period.”

Imperato reminded us of North Park Road’s speed limit. She stated that drivers should respect the limit of a steady 15 MPH.  

Imperato stated that NY state law requires that drivers stop if they hit an animal. This law protects cats and dogs from hit-and-run drivers. Mrs. Imperato mentioned a recent change in the legislation: “It used to be just dogs.”

Another point that Mrs. Imperato brought up was pedestrian behavior. She said,“It’s your responsibility to follow the rules and cross at the crosswalk. Pedestrians have to do their part, too.”

As you can see, the driver isn’t always the one at fault  Most importantly: be careful, no matter how you get to and from our school.