MAN INDICTED FOR AGGRAVATED VEHICULAR
ASSAULT IN HEAD ON COLLISION THAT INJURED FOUR
CARMEL, NEW YORK – December 4, 2020 Putnam County District Attorney Robert V. Tendy
announced today the indictment* of Elmer Medina for Aggravated Vehicular Assault and
Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated, both Felonies.
Medina was indicted by the Grand Jury of Putnam County and is accused of causing serious
physical injury to a mother and her three children. Medina, driving without a license, crashed into
the vehicle head on at a high rate of speed. The allegations in the indictment are that the crash
happened while the defendant drove on the wrong side of the road and into oncoming traffic. The
defendant was found to be intoxicated at the time of the collision, which occurred on Route 9D in
the Town of Philipstown during the evening rush hour on June 29, 2020.
All involved in the crash were sent to the hospital, including the defendant. The driver of the
vehicle required surgery on her neck and two of her three children suffered injuries and burns.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Nicholas LaStella. The defendant faces
up to 5-15 years in state prison if convicted.
Tendy thanked the New York State Police and Investigator Jaemie Caban of the Putnam County
District Attorney’s Office for their work in the case.
*An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until f
