Photo: VIN News

Yeshiva Student Killed in Monsey Car Accident

by Sandy Eller – VIN News

One yeshiva student who was standing on the edge of a busy Suffern road in Monsey is dead and another is in the hospital after being struck in a chain reaction crash involving a car and a minivan.

Ramapo Police said that the accident took place at 11:50 PM Wednesday night on Route 202 between Wilder and Limekiln roads and involved two cars, driving eastbound on roadway.

A 2008 Honda driven by 19 year old Tzvi Hakakian of Monsey had slowed down, possibly to turn into a driveway, when it was sideswiped by a 2016 Lexus that attempted to pass the Honda on the left side.

The Honda continued traveling eastward while the Lexus, driven by 24 year old Jonathan Mosquera of Suffern, veered off to the left, crossing the westbound lane of the highway and hitting two pedestrians who were standing near the edge of a driveway.

17 year old Marcus Tawil was taken by Hatzolah to Good Samaritan Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.  David Maldonado was transported to Westchester Medical Center where he was admitted in serious condition.  Both drivers were taken to Good Samaritan Hospital and treated for minor injuries.

Lieutenant Mark Emma of Ramapo Police said that the area where the accident took place was a no passing zone.

Test performed at the accident scene on Mosquera, an off duty officer with the Newburgh Police Department, indicated that neither drugs nor alcohol played any part in the accident.

Police are continuing their investigation to determine the cause of the accident which took place near a dormitory for Sephardic yeshiva, Tiferet Torah.

There have been several fatal accidents on the Suffern portion of Route 202 in the recent past which has no sidewalks and few streetlights.

“It is the most dangerous road in town,” Emma told VIN News. “The speed limit is 50 miles per hour on much of the road.  It is dark, has no shoulders and no escape route for a car. It is a tough road.”

4 Comments

  • Am I a broken record?

    I used to recommend this as a suggestion. Now, I think this should be mandatory! See the videos they made us watch (we were only 15 years old), when we had drivers-ed. Among them are as follows:

    “Wheels of tragedy”
    |
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjM1Z4wjorM

    “Mechanized Death”
    |
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDonq-3LVO8

    In “Wheels of Tragedy,” near the end, the two patrol officers visit a home to inform the parents that their teenage kids were killed in an accident. After they enter the house, the mother asks, ” But why are you asking me all these questions about my daughter?” “I’m sorry, but there’s been an accident.” “AN ACCIDENT! What kind of an accident?” They are silent. Then the mother and father break down, wailing heavily.

    In another video (Signal 30), they begin the narrative like this: “This is not a Hollywood production as can readily be seen. The quality is below their standards. However, most of these seens were taken under adverse conditions, nothing has been staged. These are actual scenes taken immediately after the accidents occured. Also, unlike Hollywood, these are bad actors and received top billing only on a tomb-stone. They paid a terrific price to be in these movies, they paid with their lives.”

    • To broken record

      I just watched the entire “wheels of tragedy”. I’ve never seen anything like it, and I agree that it should be mandatory. I’m going to ask my children and their spouses to watch it too.
      Thanks for bringing this valuable resource to our attention.

  • no one special

    I don’t know if you are a broken record. Showing gory mutilated accident victims is not the best way to help young drivers.

    Does VIN have a writer who is able to communicate in English?

  • A deterrant to wreckless driving

    These are shown in order to, hopefully, convince even one driver not to be careless. If it can convince a guy like me to be careful, how much more so, anyone else.