Victims Of Fatal Route 304 Crash Identified

NEW CITY, NY — A Nanuet man is under arrest in connection with Sunday's fatal car crash on Route 304 in New City. Police allege he ran a red light while under the influence of drugs. The victims were a local married couple.

The victims were identified as Neil Block, 69, and Aline Block, 68. New City residents, they lived near the intersection. They were driving a Toyota Camry. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and she was pronounced dead shortly after she was extracted from the crushed car.

The driver who police say caused the crash has been identified as Matthew Sindone, 23, of Nanuet. He was driving a black Lincoln MKT.

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Sindone sustained non-life threatening injuries. He was treated at Nyack Hospital and was transported to Clarkstown Police Headquarters for arrest processing.

Sindone was charged with vehicular manslaughter 1st (felony), vehicular manslaughter 2nd (felony), criminal possession of controlled substance (misdemeanor), operating a motor vehicle impaired by drugs (misdemeanor), aggravated unlicensed operation motor vehicle 3rd (misdemeanor) and traffic device violation: passed a red light (violation). These charges stem from the initial investigation and consultation with the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office.

Sindone was arraigned in Clarkstown Justice Court. Bail was set at $750,000. He was transported to the Rockland County Jail and will return to court on June, 9, 2017 at 9:30 a.m.

As the investigation into this horrific crash continues, police said, the initial contributing factor of this accident was that Sindone allegedly passed a steady red light on Route 304 at the intersection of Goebel Road. It is also alleged that Sindone was impaired by a controlled substance at the time of the collision.

The Clarkstown Police Accident Investigation Team is continuing the investigation, working with the Clarkstown Detective Bureau, Rockland County Medical examiner and the Rockland County District Attorney.

SEE: 2 Dead in Sunday Crash on Route 304