Hudson Valley Teens in Critical Condition After Fiery Car Crash

Two Hudson Valley teens and a third person are all in critical condition following a horrific-looking car crash.

On Sunday around 11:20 p.m., New York State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on State Route 17 in the town of Blooming Grove near exit 129.

An investigation revealed that 2003 Chevy TrailBlazer was traveling west on State Route 17 when the vehicle left the roadway on the north shoulder. The vehicle subsequently struck a guide rail, overturned and came to rest on its passenger side facing south across the westbound lanes and became engulfed in flames. All three occupants were ejected from the vehicle.

Three people from inside the vehicle had to be flown to the hospital, Mark Lieb of Rockland Video Tells Hudson Valley Post. New York State Police confirmed all three people in the vehicle were transported to Westchester Medical Center.

The driver 19-year-old Wesley Smith of New Windsor and his two passengers, 19-year-old Amber Santiago of Newburgh and Nageria Smith, 23, of Queens are all listed in critical condition.

The highway had to be shut down in both directions so three helicopters could land on the roadway. The highway was still shut down during the early morning hours on Monday.

This is an ongoing investigation and the State Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the accident to contact the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) at Monroe at 845-782-8311.

Subscribe to the Hudson Valley Post’s Newsletter

Video at the scene of the crash can be seen below:

The cause of the crash is unclear as of this writing.

Spot a typo? Let us know.