Posted on: April 11, 2025 01:55 PM

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State police investigating fatal motor vehicle crash on I 684 in Putnam county

The New York State Police from the Somers barracks, along with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), are investigating a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred on Interstate 684 southbound near mile marker 26.4 in the town of Southeast, Putnam County.

On April 10, 2025, at approximately 6:35 a.m., Troopers responded to a two-vehicle collision involving a 1999 Honda Civic and a 2024 Ford F-150 pickup truck. Upon arrival, Troopers observed the Honda Civic with significant front-end damage in the left lane. Inside the vehicle, the rear seat passenger, identified as Marcela Romero, age 74, of the Bronx, NY, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Preliminary investigation determined that the Honda Civic, operated by Yaxkin G. Ramos Romero, age 24, of the Bronx, NY, was traveling southbound with two passengers—her sister, Glenis O. Ramos Romero, age 25, in the front seat, and their grandmother, Marcela Romero, in the rear seat.

According to statements from both Yaxkin and Glenis, the vehicle attempted a lane change from the left to the center lane when Yaxkin noticed another vehicle occupying the space. In an attempt to avoid a collision, the operator steered abruptly back into the left lane, causing the Honda to strike the left guide rail before striking the side of a Ford F-150 pickup truck.

The driver of the Ford F-150 pickup truck, Richard W. Valentine, age 35, of Larchmont, NY, was not injured. He reported that the Honda veered into his lane and, after hitting the guide rail, struck his vehicle’s rear driver’s side panel.

The investigation remains ongoing.

From NYSP