RAMAPO – At approximately 2:50 a.m. Saturday morning on Route 202 in the Village of Montebello, Ramapo Police responded to a report of a one car accident. Responding patrol officers observed a vehicle flipped over on its side. It had been occupied by five individuals.
Four of the occupants were transported to both Nyack Hospital and Westchester Medical Center. They were treated for non-life-threatening injuries. One female occupant was declared deceased at the scene. All five including the dead person were under the age of 18 years old.
The vehicle struck a utility pole, causing power disruption in the area. The was closed for hours.
The Rockland County District Attorney’s Office is assisting the Ramapo Police Department Crash Investigation Team with the investigation.
The preliminary investigation revealed that the 17-year-old male driver from Suffern was intoxicated. He was transported from Nyack Hospital to the Ramapo Police Department for arrest processing.
The driver, whose identity will be withheld due to his juvenile status, was charged with manslaughter, assault, vehicular assault, vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated.
The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing and is expected to take some time to complete.
The male driver was arraigned virtually Saturday afternoon in Rockland County Youth Superior Court.
He was released on his own recognizance and will return to court on Monday April 26, 2021.
