Police Release Names, Details Of Multi-Car Newburgh Crash

NEWBURGH, NY — State police released more details about the multi-car crash in Newburgh that ended after a police chase. Authorities said Willie T. Cuyler, 26, of Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, was driving a 2019 black Chevy Tahoe while he was being pursued for 18 miles by police.

The chase began on southbound I-87, near the mile marker 60.2, in the Town of Newburgh.

Police said a "be on the lookout" alert — or BOLO — was issued on the Tahoe which was believed to be occupied by people who were associated with the "Felony Lane Gang," a group authorities said are responsible for numerous "smash and grab" thefts and fraudulent ATM withdrawals and identity thefts throughout the east coast.

When troopers tried to stop Cuyler for a vehicle and traffic violation, they said he got off the Thruway at the Newburgh exit and fled onto I-84. He continued driving to Route 52 and eventually began traveling east on Route 17K.

That was when he drove into the westbound lane and struck a 2012 Mazda driven by Mark A. Newsome, 62, of Middletown.

Newsome's car was pushed into the path of a 2016 Honda CRV, which was going east on Route 17K. It was driven by Cynthia M. Diaz, 59, of New Windsor.

Cuyler's car then spun around in the westbound lane and struck a 2015 Chevy Tahoe head-on. It was being driven by Stacey M. Ackerson, 39, of Walden.

Cuyler's car became inoperative at that point, police said.

Diaz and Ackerson were both taken to St. Luke's Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Newsome was not injured.

Cuyler and the three other people in his car were entrapped because of the crash.

Cuyler and Deonte S. Damon, 24, of Lauderhill, Florida, were taken to St. Luke's Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

Farrell M. Kam, 25, of Boca Raton, Florida, was taken to Westchester Medical Center for serious injuries, and Darius D. Henry, 26, of North Lauderdale, Florida, was airlifted to Westchester Medical for a serious injury, police said.

Cuyler and Kam remain in state police custody.

Police said the investigation in ongoing, and charges are pending arraignment when medically feasible.

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