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The incident occurred in Orange County at about 10:15 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 25, on Route 17 westbound in Goshen.
According to New York State Police Trooper Steven Nevel, the crash occurred shortly after Orange County 911 issued an alert for a vehicle traveling east in the westbound lanes of State Route 17.
Minutes later, the truck passed a City of Middletown police member between Exits 119 and 118, who made a U-turn and attempted to stop the wrong-way vehicle, Nevel said.
A short time later, the Ford passed a state trooper between Exits 120 and 119, and the trooper turned around and pursued the vehicle to stop it.
Nevel said the driver of the wrong-way vehicle, later identified as Ulster County resident Amiel Maerling, age 32, of Greenfield Park, continued to drive east at a high rate of speed and, in the area of Exit 122, collided head-on with a 2020 International tractor-trailer.
Both vehicles became engulfed in flames, and Maerling was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the tractor-trailer received serious injuries and was transported to Garnet Medical Center in Middletown, Nevel said.
In addition to the city of Middletown Police Department, the town of Wallkill Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office were also involved in efforts to stop the wrong-way driver.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone who may have witnessed the crash or observed the wrong-way Ford 150 before the collision is asked to call the New York State Police at 845-344-5300 and reference RMS number NY2400711498.
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