A 26-year-old Napanoch man was arraigned on October 15 on charges stemming from a fatal two-vehicle crash in October 2025 that claimed the life of 24-year-old Kaelyn A. Rausch, according to New York State Police and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office.

Raul Edwardo Braddock-Toala was arrested on October 14, 2026, following an indictment by an Ulster County grand jury on October 6. He was arraigned the following day in Ulster County Court and remanded to the Ulster County Jail without bail.

The charges stem from a crash on October 5, 2025, on State Route 209 in the town of Wawarsing, near 8097 Route 209 and the intersection with Tops Market Boulevard. According to the District Attorney’s Office, Braddock-Toala was allegedly driving at excessive speeds while attempting to pass a vehicle operated by Rausch when his vehicle struck the rear of hers. The collision caused Rausch’s vehicle to roll over, ejecting her. She died two days later at Westchester Medical Center.

Troopers from the State Police Ellenville barracks, members of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Troop F Collision Reconstruction Unit responded to the crash and investigated the circumstances surrounding the collision.

Following an investigation conducted by State Police Troop F BCI and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office, the grand jury indicted Braddock-Toala on charges of second-degree manslaughter, a Class C felony; criminally negligent homicide, a Class E felony; and second-degree reckless endangerment, a Class A misdemeanor, State Police said.

Braddock-Toala was taken into custody by members of the Ellenville BCI and Troop F Collision Reconstruction Unit on October 14 and transported to State Police Ellenville for processing.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Kristen Druse. Braddock-Toala is represented by the Ulster County Public Defender’s Office and is scheduled to return to court on November 30 for further proceedings.

In a statement accompanying the announcement, Ulster County District Attorney Emmanuel Nneji urged drivers to exercise care on local roads, remembering Rausch and others affected by fatal crashes and serious traffic-related trauma.

“Selfish driving and rushing on our roads sometimes delay or take you on a detour that you don’t want, including never getting to your destination, loss of life, and changed lives for families,” Nneji said.