Elwell
NEW CITY – A Suffern man faces up to seven years when sentenced
in December on his conviction in Rockland County Court to assault and
vehicular assault.
Jonathan Elwell, 36, was also convicted in a jury trial of leaving the
scene of an accident with serious physical injury and two counts of DWI,
all in connection with a head-on crash in Ramapo that nearly killed another
driver.
On October 14, 2015 at about 12:48 a.m., Elwell was driving a Mercedes-Benz
westbound on Route 202 in Montebello when he collided with the victim’s
Cadillac.
Immediately after the crash, an eyewitness saw Elwell attempted to restart
his car. He eventually fled the accident scene by running down Route 202
and stumbling into a wooded area.
About three hours later, Elwell contacted Ramapo Police saying he was
involved in a traffic accident, that he blacked out, that he remembered
an accident, but nothing else, and that he was alone in the car. Officers
located him a half mile from the accident scene in an intoxicated state.
More than five hours after the crash, experts but Elwell’s blood
alcohol content at .11.
An investigation into the crash revealed he did not break or attempt to
avoid a collision with the victim’s car, as the victim attempted
to unsuccessfully avoid being struck.
The victim was treated at both Good Samaritan Hospital and Westchester
Medical Center, where he underwent several surgeries on his left leg,
right hip and right foot. The accident left him unable to walk without
a cane.
