Cortlandt, New York – On April 3, 2020, at approximately 4:15 p.m., the New York State Police from the Cortlandt barracks initiated a traffic stop of a stolen 2019 Kawasaki motorcycle at the Annsville Circle in the town of Cortlandt.

The operator of the motorcycle immediately fled southbound on State Route 9 at a high rate of speed towards the city of Peekskill.  The pursuit ended when the motorcycle collided with a Nissan Altima traveling in the same direction.  The operator was ejected from the motorcycle north of the Croton Point Avenue exit in the village of Croton-on-Hudson.

Life-saving measures were initiated at the scene by Troopers, and then taken over by responding EMS personnel.  The motorcycle operator, Damian J. Simmons, age 38, of Brooklyn, NY, was transported to Westchester Medical Center where he later succumbed to his injuries.

The New York State Police were assisted by the Westchester County Police Department, Croton Police Department, Croton Fire Department, as well as the Croton and Ossining EMS.

This incident is still under investigation by the New York State Police.