Wrong-Way Driver In Fatal Rte. 17 Crash ID'd, Police Seeking Witnesses

GOSHEN, NY — New York State Police have released the identity of the driver who was killed in a fiery wrong-way crash in Orange County.

New York State Police say they are still investigating the fatal crash on State Route 17 in Goshen that took place late Wednesday night.

Shortly after 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Orange County 911 issued an alert for a 2008 Ford F150 traveling east in the westbound lanes of Route 17. The vehicle had been driving from Sullivan County into Orange County.

The wrong-way vehicle passed a City of Middletown Police officer between Exits 119 and 118, who made a u-turn and attempted to stop the Ford, according to investigators. Soon after, the Ford passed a New York State trooper between Exits 120 and 119, who also turned around and followed the vehicle to try to stop it. The Town of Wallkill Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff's Office were also involved in efforts to stop the wrong-way driver.

The driver of the Ford, later identified as 32-year-old Amiel Maerling, of Greenfield Park, continued to drive east at a high speed and collided head-on with a 2020 International tractor-trailer at Exit 122, according to police.

Both vehicles were then engulfed in flames. Maerling was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver of the tractor-trailer, who has not been identified, received serious injuries and was taken to Garnet Medical Center.

Traffic in the area east and west of Exit 122a was shut down for several hours after the incident, into the early morning.

The investigation into this incident is still underway. Anyone who may have witnessed the crash or observed the wrong-way Ford 150 before the crash is asked to call the New York State Police at 845-344-5300 and reference RMS number NY2400711498.