NEW HAMPTON – State Police have identified the victim of a motor
vehicle-pedestrian fatal on eastbound I-84 in the Town of Wawayanda shortly
after 8 p.m. Saturday. The victim, Nicholas Barba, 35, of the Bronx was
having a baseball catch with his son on the side of the highway as they
waited for a tow truck to retrieve their disabled vehicle.
Police said the oncoming vehicle was driving eastbound in the right lane
of the highway when Barba entered the road and was struck.
Barba was transported and pronounced dead at Orange Regional Medical Center
in the Town of Wallkill.
Troopers said as Barba and his son were having the catch, the baseball
went across the roadway and into the median. Barba was retrieving it and
attempting to cross back over the highway when he was struck.
The vehicle in question stopped at the scene and police said no charges
were expected against the driver.
