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.
Early on October 14, 2015, Elwell was westbound on Route 202 in Montebello when he collided with the victim’s car. 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 found 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 underwent several surgeries on his left leg, right hip and right foot. The accident left him unable to walk without a cane.
