Driver Accused Of Causing Passenger Death During High-Speed Chase

GOSHEN, NY — A Newark man was accused of causing the death of someone as a result of a high-speed, early morning police chase in the town of Newburgh.

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler said Monday that Luis Colon, 27, of Newark, was charged with second-degree manslaughter and first-degree unlawfully fleeing a police officer, felonies.

Prosecutors said police officers were called to a burglary in progress around 1:20 a.m. Sunday at Big Boyz Toys, an ATV, dirt bikes and motorsports vehicle dealership on Route 9W in the town of Newburgh.

When police tried to block an Econoline van from leaving the parking lot, they said the driver, who was later identified as Colon, tried to evade the police by driving into the City of Newburgh.

Colon was clocked going more than 90 mph in a 65-mph zone, police said, and was ignoring traffic signals, including a red traffic light at the intersection of South Robinson Avenue and South Williams Street in the city of Newburgh.

While going through that intersection, Colon struck another vehicle, after which he struck several parked cars before hitting a utility pole, police said, which caused his van to roll.

The crash killed one of the van's passengers and injured Colon and a second passenger, police said. Colon and the second passenger were hospitalized.

During the police chase on Route 9W, authorities said, a passenger in the van open its back door and threw the stolen dirt bikes and other vehicles out of the van in an attempt to slow the pursuing police cars.

Bail was set for Colon in the amount of $250,000 cash; $500,000 fully secured bond or $750,000 partially secured bond.

He is next scheduled to appear in the City of Newburgh Court Dec. 8.

Hoovler said the matter will be presented to an Orange County grand jury, and additional charges are expected to be filed against Colon and a second person.

Town of Newburgh police said they recovered many of the discarded dirt bikes. The DA's office and the police department are asking anyone who finds evidence of the incident, including what appears to be pieces from motorsports vehicles on Route 9W, or has video of any portion of the pursuit to call the Town of Newburgh Police Department at 845-564-1100.

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