Car Crashes Into Pearl River House, Starts Conflagration

PEARL RIVER, NY — A car crashed into a house on Sickletown Road Friday, leading to a rapidly spreading fire. The 2 a.m. incident led to charges against a Blauvelt man, Orangetown police said. The investigation is still underway.

The officer called to the scene saw an SUV had smashed into the first floor in the garage area. A small fire had begun under it. However, the vehicle had struck a gas main leading into the house, which fed the blaze.

Officers got the four residents out of the house and a safe distance away, police said. While first fearing that the driver was still in the car, emergency responders learned that he had gotten out and run away. (For more neighborhood stories like this, sign up for Patch’s daily newsletter, news alerts and updates.)

The driver of the car was Jude Donnelly, 33, police said. He was interviewed by Orangetown police detectives and has initially been charged with leaving the scene of an accident and numerous traffic and vehicle violations. Additional charges are possible.

In addition to the Pearl River Fire Department, firefighters from Nanuet, Nyack, West Nyack, Tappan and Orangeburg fire departments fought the blaze. The Montvale NJ fire department stood by at the Pearl River firehouse. Also helping were the Pearl River Ambulance Corps, Rockland County Technical Rescue Team and Rockland Paramedic Services. Also on scene were O&R, the Red Cross, the Rockland Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Orangetown fire inspector and building department.

PHOTO/ Orangetown Police Department

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