Fatal Crash On Route 304; Victim ID'd

NEW CITY, NY — The victim of yesterday's fatal accident is Jayde Marks 21, of New City, Clarkstown police reported. The crash took place just before 1 a.m. Sunday, at Route 304 and Germonds Road in New City.

Responders arrived at a two-car accident and found one vehicle’s sole occupant, a female, in serious condition. The woman, later identified as Marks, was transported to Nyack Hospital where she was pronounced deceased.

The sole occupant and driver of the second vehicle, a man, was transported to Westchester Medical Center for a non-life threatening injury that may require surgery.

The Clarkstown Police Accident Investigation Unit responded. Route 304 was closed for eight hours.

Based on the initial investigation, police allege that the male driver passed a steady red light while driving impaired by alcohol. Marks was heading east on Germonds Road and the man was heading south on Rt. 304.

Michael Mercado, 22, of West Haverstraw, is being charged with vehicular manslaughter 2nd (felony), DWI (misdemeanor), refusal to submit to breath test (violation) and passed steady red light (violation). He will be arraigned upon discharge from the hospital.