.jpg)
Major Scott D. Field
Troop T Commander
PRESS RELEASE
***UPDATE: Names Released***
Athens, NY – State Police have determined a church group from the Church of God of Prophecy, out of South Ozone Park, NY, were traveling back to New York City from visiting Niagara Falls when the van they were traveling in crashed and overturned. Percival Carter, 73, of Jamaica, NY, was operating the van when he attempted to avoid an uninvolved vehicle that changed lanes, and he overcorrected causing the van to lose control and overturn numerous times. Carter was not injured during the crash.
Passengers Antoinette Roper, 63, of Jamaica, NY, and Sarah Simms, 63, of Hempstead, NY, were both transported to Northern Dutchess Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. 60-year-old Maxine Fisher, of Jamaica, NY, was transported to Health Alliance in Kingston for non-life-threatening injuries. Ismay D. Montoban, 63, of Central Islip, NY, was transported to Albany Memorial Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Herchell M. Blackwood, 63, of Valley Stream, NY, was transported to St. Peter’s Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Leonie Marshall, 62, of Queens Village, NY, was transported to Albany Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries. Passengers Ronald Price, age 69, Rochelle Smith, age 37, and Agnes Williams, age 84, were also transported to Albany Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries, their addresses are unknown at this time.
Passengers Diane A. Grier, 51, of Queens Village, NY, Phyllis May Lewis, 65, of Rosedale, NY, Richard K. Senior, 56, of Queens Village, NY, and Pamela Wilson, 65, (unknown address), were transported to Albany Medical Center for serious, life-threatening injuries and remain in critical condition.
No criminal charges are pending, and no tickets were issued. State Police were assisted on scene by Troop F BCI, Troop F CRU (Collision Reconstruction Unit), Coxsackie and New Baltimore Fire Departments, and multiple EMS agencies. All southbound lanes reopened to traffic around 3:45 a.m.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
On Wednesday, August 24, 2022, at about 9:30 p.m., State Police responded to reports of a large passenger van that crashed on the NYS Thruway (I-87) southbound, south of Exit 21B in the town of Athens, Greene County.
The preliminary investigation determined that the 14-passenger van lost control, struck a guiderail and rolled over. There were a total of 13 passengers and a driver in the van at the time of the crash. Ambulances have transported all 13 passengers local hospitals, three to Albany Medical Center with serious injuries and ten to other local hospitals with minor injuries. The operator of the van was not injured.
The Thruway remains closed at Exit 21B.
The Investigation is ongoing and further updates will be provided.