Good Samaritan Killed After Stopping to Help Crash Victim in West Nyack; Driver Charged With DWI

A tragic early morning crash claimed the life of a Good Samaritan who stopped to help after a vehicle overturned on Palisades Center Drive.

According to the Clarkstown Police Department, officers responded at approximately 1:20 a.m. Tuesday to a single-vehicle crash on Palisades Center Drive, opposite Home Depot. Investigators say a green Toyota Camry traveling south left the roadway, struck a guardrail, crashed through a fence, and overturned onto its driver’s side.

The two occupants had exited the vehicle before police arrived. The 32-year-old male passenger told officers he had freed himself from the car and that the 18-year-old female driver was no longer inside. He also reported that a passing motorist had stopped to help.

Officers soon heard the driver calling for help from approximately 30 to 40 feet below the roadway in a densely wooded embankment. Responding officers, assisted by the West Nyack Fire Department, reached the area and safely rescued the injured driver.

During the rescue, officers also located an unresponsive 43-year-old man from Maybrook, New York. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators believe the man had stopped to assist after witnessing the crash and accidentally fell down the embankment while attempting to reach the driver after hearing her calls for help. His identity has not yet been released pending notification of his family.

The driver and passenger were transported by Rockland Paramedic Services and Nyack Community Ambulance Corps to local hospitals for evaluation.

Following the preliminary investigation, the 18-year-old driver, who is from Carmel, was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated, along with additional New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law violations related to the crash. She was released on an appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear in Clarkstown Justice Court at a later date.

The Clarkstown Police Department’s Accident Investigation Unit continues to investigate the incident and is asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has information to contact the department at (845) 639-5800.