Update: New Details, Names Released In Thruway Church Trip Crash

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — The rollover of a 14-person van sent more than a dozen people to the emergency room, some with serious injuries, according to New York State Troopers.

Last night, at about 9:30 p.m., state police responded to reports that a large passenger van had crashed on the NYS Thruway (I-87) southbound, south of Exit 21B in the town of Athens in Greene County.

Investigators said a church group from the Church of God of Prophecy, from South Ozone Park, were traveling back to New York City after visiting Niagara Falls when the van crashed and overturned. Percival Carter, 73, of Jamaica, New York was driving the van when he attempted to avoid an uninvolved vehicle that changed lanes. He apparently overcorrected, causing the van to lose control and overturn several times.

Carter was not injured during the crash.

Passengers Diane A. Grier, 51, of Queens Village, Phyllis May Lewis, 65, of Rosedale, Richard K. Senior, 56, of Queens Village and Pamela Wilson, 65, were transported to Albany Medical Center for serious, life-threatening injuries and remain in critical condition.

Passengers Antoinette Roper, 63, of Jamaica, and Sarah Simms, 63, of Hempstead, were both transported to Northern Dutchess Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

60-year-old Maxine Fisher, of Jamaica, was taken to Health Alliance in Kingston for non-life-threatening injuries. Herchell M. Blackwood, 63, of Valley Stream, was taken to St. Peter’s Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Ismay D. Montoban, 63, of Central Islip, Leonie Marshall, 62, of Queens Village, Ronald Price, 69, Rochelle Smith, 37, and Agnes Williams, 84, were taken to Albany Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries.

No criminal charges are pending and no tickets were issued, according to state police who were assisted on scene by Coxsackie and New Baltimore Fire Departments, and multiple EMS agencies.

All southbound lanes reopened to traffic around 3:45 a.m.