NEW CITY – A West Haverstraw man was charged with vehicular manslaughter after being involved in a fatal two-car crash early Sunday, July 7.
Clarkstown Police said the crash occurred around 1 a.m. at Route 304 and Germonds Road in New City. A female driver was killed in the accident, but police are withholding her name pending notification of relatives.
Michael Mercado, 22, was charged with vehicular manslaughter, DWI and refusing to submit to a breath test.
Based on the initial investigation, police said Mercado allegedly passed a steady red light while driving impaired by alcohol. The female driver was heading east on Germonds Road and Mercado was heading south on Route 304 when he allegedly passed the red light and struck the other vehicle. The victim was taken to Montefiore Nyack Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Mercado was admitted to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
