SOUTHEAST — A 74-year-old Bronx woman was killed in a two-vehicle collision on Interstate 684 in Putnam County early Thursday morning, according to New York State Police.
Troopers from the Somers barracks responded to the crash site near mile marker 26.4 in the town of Southeast at approximately 6:35 a.m. on April 10.
Upon arrival, officers found a 1999 Honda Civic with significant front-end damage in the left lane.
The rear seat passenger, identified as Marcela Romero of the Bronx, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the Honda was operated by 24-year-old Yaxkin G. Ramos Romero of the Bronx, who was traveling southbound with two passengers—her 25-year-old sister, Glenis O. Ramos Romero, in the front seat and their grandmother, Marcela Romero, in the rear.
According to statements from both Yaxkin and Glenis, the vehicle attempted to change lanes from the left to the center lane when Yaxkin noticed another vehicle already occupying that space.
In an attempt to avoid a collision, she steered abruptly back into the left lane, causing the Honda to strike the left guide rail before hitting a 2024 Ford F-150 pickup truck.
The driver of the Ford, Richard W. Valentine, 35, of Larchmont, was not injured in the crash.
Valentine reported that the Honda veered into his lane and, after hitting the guide rail, struck his vehicle’s rear driver’s side panel.
State Police and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation are continuing to investigate the incident.
