Why one pickup crossed the median and slammed into another remains under investigation
MONTICELLO – The Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, Tuesday,
released the names of the victims in the crash of two pickup trucks near
Route 17 exit 105B in Monticello.
The accident occurred at around 2:48 p.m. on Monday when a truck driven
by Carmelo Viera, 50, of Rochester was driving westbound, crossed the
center median and struck another pickup truck heading eastbound.
Killed in the westbound truck was Charkeilys Viera, five, the daughter
of the driver, Carmelo Viera, 50, who was bringing household items to
Rochester as they recently moved there from the Bronx.
Viera and his 14-year-old daughter, Charlkeilys Viera were transported
to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla in critical condition.
The five-year-old was not sitting in a child seat; that was in the back
of the truck.
The driver of the truck that was hit was identified as Robert Coletti,
54, of Nesconset, Long Island. He and his wife, Gina, 53, and daughters,
Lauren, 17, and Jacklyn, 15, were all taken to Orange Regional Medical
Center for treatment. Gina was held for observation while the other family
members were treated and released.
The family was returning home from Buffalo.
“This was a horrific end to the holiday weekend,” said Sheriff
Michael Schiff. “The accident occurred in one of the few spots on
Route 17 that does not have a center median barrier.”
Coroner Alan Kesten, Monticello Fire, Mobile Medic, Life Flight, Monticello
Police and State Police were on the scene with State Police Crash Reconstruction
Unit assisting.
