The quiet roads of Copake turned deadly Thursday afternoon when a devastating crash claimed the lives of John and Janet Piwowarski, a longtime couple from nearby Hillsdale. What began as a routine drive ended in heartbreak at a rural intersection now marked by loss and unanswered questions.
Authorities say the collision happened around 3:14 p.m. at the junction of County Route 7 and State Route 23. John Piwowarski, 78, was behind the wheel of a 2022 Subaru Outback. For reasons still under investigation, he entered the intersection and crossed into the path of an oncoming tanker truck.
The impact was immediate and severe. The tanker, moving eastbound along State Route 23, struck the Subaru with force. The truck was carrying roughly 7,000 gallons of gasoline at the time, adding a dangerous layer to an already catastrophic scene.
John Piwowarski was pronounced dead at the scene. Emergency responders worked quickly to assist his wife, 76-year-old Janet Piwowarski, who had been riding with him. She was rushed to Columbia Memorial Hospital in Hudson, where doctors fought to save her. Hours later, she died from her injuries.
The loss has left a deep mark on the local community. Friends and neighbors remember the couple as quiet, steady people who had spent years building a life together in Columbia County. Their sudden passing has shaken those who knew them and even those who didn’t.
The tanker truck driver, identified as Robert D. Fore of Cohoes, survived the crash with non-life-threatening injuries. He was also taken to the hospital for treatment. Officials have not indicated any signs of impairment or wrongdoing, and no charges have been announced.
Investigators from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, along with accident reconstruction teams, are still working to determine exactly what led to the crash. For now, the intersection remains a place of mourning, as a family and a community try to make sense of a moment that changed everything in seconds.
