Schaghticoke, NY (March 3, 2026) – A 45-year-old motorcyclist from Johnsonville died after his bike struck a car attempting a left turn on State Route 40 in Schaghticoke on Saturday, March 1. Robert J. Koenig was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.
The crash happened at approximately 7:40 p.m. Salman Rahmat, 34, of Cohoes, was driving a Subaru Impreza and began turning left to head southbound when Koenig, traveling northbound, struck the driver’s side of the vehicle. The force of the collision ejected Koenig from his motorcycle. Both men came to rest in the southbound lane.
Emergency units responded to the scene. Authorities administered field sobriety tests to Rahmat, and no signs of impairment were found. No charges have been filed.
The crash remains under investigation, and more details will be shared as they become available. Our sincere condolences go out to Robert Koenig’s family and those who knew him.
Fatal Motorcycle Crashes Involving Turning Vehicles in New York State
Left-turn crashes are one of the leading causes of fatal motorcycle accidents across New York State. When a driver turns left across oncoming traffic, motorcycles are especially vulnerable because they are smaller and harder to spot than other vehicles. A split-second misjudgment of speed or distance can have deadly consequences.
Motorcyclists traveling at legal speeds through intersections or along open roads have little time to react when a vehicle cuts across their path. The risk is heightened at dusk and after dark, when visibility drops and motorcycles become even harder to see. Rensselaer County roads, like many rural routes in Upstate New York, carry a mix of local and through traffic that increases exposure to these situations.
Riders are encouraged to stay visible, use headlights at all times, and approach intersections with extra caution, particularly when vehicles ahead show signs of turning.
