William H. Champlin III, 30, of Tivoli, a mechanic for Rhinebeck Ford, was the motorcyclist who died of injuries in a car-motorcycle accident Oct. 21 on Route 9 in Red Hook.
According to his obituary, Champlin worked for years as a mechanic and took great pride and enjoyment out of customizing both cars and motorcycles.
Champlin suffered serious life-threatening injuries in the crash near Rokeby Road and Hannafor Drive and was transported by ambulance to Northern Dutchess Hospital, where he later died, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office reported.
The sole occupant of the car, Lawrence Gross, 75, of Staatsburg, suffered a minor injury in the crash and was not transported to the hospital.
According to the sheriff’s report, preliminary investigation showed that Champlin’s 2003 Honda motorcycle was southbound on Route 9 when it struck a 1989 Mercedes Benz, which was turning left from a parking lot to go northbound.
“The motorcycle struck the car at the driver’s side rear passenger door, and the motorcyclist was then ejected,” the report said.
The report noted, “The investigation into the cause(s) of the crash is continuing by members of the Sheriff’s Office Crash Investigation Unit, and at this time excessive speed and reckless operation of the motorcycle are thought to be factors.”
Champlin is survived by his fiancé, Stacy Lynn Clarke and their son, Levin Champlin, of Tivoli; his mother, Priscilla Striffler Champlin of Schenectady, N.Y., and father, William H. Champlin, Jr. and his spouse, Joyce, of Tivoli. He is also survived by his paternal grandmother; Joan Champlin of Tivoli, his maternal grandmother; Lois Striffler of Patchogue, N.Y.; four siblings, a step-brother, and a step-sister, Ellen Litton of Red Hook.
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