Fatal crash in Peekskill

23 December 2020
NEW YORK STATE POLICE 
Major Michael J. Drake
Troop K Commander

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

Update, December 24, 2020 5:10 p.m. to include victim’s name:

Peekskill, New York – December 24, 2020, the New York State Police investigating the city of Peekskill fatal December 23, 2020 are releasing the crash victims.  The operator of the southbound 2020 Acura MDX, Shina M. McClam, aged 32 years, of Ossining, NY, succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene.  Ms. McClam’s two passengers, her six-year-old daughter and her eighteen-year-old niece, both sustained serious but believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.  The eighteen-year-old was transported to Westchester Medical Center by ambulance, and the six-year old was airlifted to Westchester Medical Center for further care.

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Update, December 24, 2020 7:55 a.m.:

Peekskill, New York – On December 23, 2020, and approximately 9:10 p.m., the New York State Police in Westchester were dispatched for a wrong way driver on US Highway 9 in the area of Main Street in the city of Peekskill.

Initial investigation revealed a 2018 Audi Q7 color black operated by Mark E. Cope, age 41, of Yorktown, NY, was traveling the wrong-way northbound in the southbound lanes of US Highway 9.  Cope struck a southbound 2020 Acura MDX containing three occupants.  Two of the occupants sustained serious but believed to be non-life-threatening injuries, and the third was unfortunately pronounced deceased.

Further investigation found Mark Cope was under the influence of alcohol and was subsequently arrested for Vehicular Manslaughter in the 1st degree, a class C felony.

Cope was virtually arraigned before the town of Cortlandt Court and remanded to the Westchester County Jail in lieu of $100,000 cash bail or bond.  He is next scheduled to appear before the Peekskill City Court on December 29, 2020, at 9:00 a.m.

The State Police are asking for anyone who may have observed the wrong way operation which led to this tragic death to please contact the New York State Police at (914) 769-2600.  Please ask for the Cortlandt Bureau of Criminal Investigation and refer to case# 9992275.

The State Police were assisted by Peekskill Police Department throughout this investigation.  Peekskill and Montrose Fire Departments and the Westchester County Medical Examiner’s Office also responded to the scene.

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Peekskill,  New York – December 23, 2020, the New York State Police in Westchester are investigating a two car fatal motor vehicle crash on US Highway 9 in the city of Peekskill.

US Highway 9 will be closed for a significant amount of time to facilitate the investigation.

Updates will be made as they become available

Author: Harlem Valley News