TRAGEDY IN RYE, NY: 2 PEOPLE WERE KILLED ON I-95 MONDAY IN RYE, NEW YORK, WHEN THE DRIVER OF A DODGE CARAVAN STRUCK BOTH OF THE MOTORISTS WHO WERE INSPECTING A PRIOR COLLISION, THROWING THEM AGAINST THE BACK OF THE AIRPORT SHUTTLE VAN AND KILLING THEM INSTANTLY
FEBRUARY 3, 2015
RYE, NEW YORK
Two
people were killed in a horrific multi-car crash that closed the northbound
lanes of Interstate 95 Monday afternoon, state police said.
The
crash, between Exits 21 and 22, was reported just after 1:30 p.m. State police
said two drivers in a Lexus sedan and an airport shuttle van were involved in a
collision and pulled over to the side of the road.
The
two drivers — a man and a woman — were standing by the side of the road
inspecting the damage and a trooper had pulled up to the crash when the driver
of a Dodge Caravan lost control on the icy highway. The mini-van struck both of
the motorists, throwing them against the back of the airport shuttle van and killing
them instantly, state police said.
Both
were pronounced dead at the scene; the driver of the Dodge Caravan was taken to
Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla. His injuries were described as
non-life-threatening.
Investigators
are still trying to piece together the chain of events which caused the
pile-up. A state police accident investigation reconstruction unit was on
scene.
State
police were withholding the victims' names pending notification of family.
Their names had not been released as of early Tuesday morning.
Traffic
backed up to Exit 19. Drivers were diverted from Exit 22 and onto Midland
Avenue.
Throughout
the afternoon, troopers could be seen standing close to the mangled wreck of
one of the vehicles amid heavy snowfall.
It
was a treacherous 24 hours for drivers throughout the Lower Hudson Valley as
yet another snowstorm brought
a mix of rain, sleet and snow to roads and highways Monday.
The
evening commute was messy, too, and roads and surfaces were expected to freeze
solid as temperatures plunged into the single digits overnight.
We have advised motorists to avoid standing on the road near their cars, as other motorists will strike them with their vehicles. Similar tragedies have unfortunately occurred many times. If possible, stay inside your vehicle. If you have to exit the vehicle, try to stay on the other side of the road where the traffic is located. Other drivers will be distracted by the accident and will not pay attention to you, unless it is too late.