Arrest Made In Fatal Hit-And-Run In Orange County

HIGHLANDS, NY — An arrest has been made in the fatal hit-and-run Tuesday in the Town of Highlands. State police and the Town of Highlands Police Department said Rene Morataya, 55, of Mount Kisco, was arrested and charged with one count of leaving the scene of an incident which resulted in death, a felony.

Morataya was arrested by state troopers Wednesday in the area of Crompond Road in Cortlandt in Westchester County.

He was taken to the Monroe barracks where he was processed.

Morataya was arraigned in the Town of Monroe Court where his bail was set at $20,000.

He was then remanded to the custody of the Orange County Sheriff.

On Tuesday, authorities responded to the hit-and-run motor vehicle accident on Route 9W in the Town of Highlands around 8:20 p.m.

Police said the accident occurred when Morataya was driving a tan-colored 1998 Toyota 4-Runner, and he made an illegal U-turn.

A motorcycle operated by George Guy, 62, of Highland Falls, was unable to avoid hitting the SUV and collided with the driver's side of Morataya's car.

Guy was ejected from his motorcycle and died at the scene.

After the collision, Morataya fled the scene in his heavily damaged SUV, police said.

The state police and Town of Highlands police were assisted in the investigation by the West Point military police, the Westchester County Police Department and the City of Peekskill Police Department.

State police said the investigation is continuing and asks if anyone has any information to call the state police in Middletown at 845-344-5300, referencing case No. 9182887.

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