Just before dawn on Saturday, a three-vehicle collision on the Bear Mountain State Parkway in the Town of Cortlandt left one driver dead and two others injured, according to New York State Police. Troopers identified the victim as 28-year-old Darly G. Bravo Coello of Yorktown Heights. Investigators say Bravo Coello exited his vehicle after a head-on crash and was then struck by a passing car. The parkway was shut down between Locust Avenue and Arlo Lane while troopers worked the scene, and the investigation remains active.
How the Crash Unfolded
According to an investigation by the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the NYSP Collision Reconstruction Unit, Bravo Coello was driving a Subaru westbound when it crossed the double yellow line and collided head-on with a Honda driven by 54-year-old Charles D. Mooney of New Windsor. A Toyota driven by 44-year-old Manuel S. Pauta Zhingri of Peekskill then struck the disabled Subaru, and Bravo Coello, who had gotten out of the vehicle, was hit by that Toyota. Mooney and Pauta Zhingri were taken to area hospitals with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, according to Patch.
Troopers Responded, Traffic Halted
State police say they received the first call at about 5 a.m. and responded to the stretch of the Bear Mountain State Parkway between Locust Avenue and Arlo Lane, temporarily shutting the road in both directions so emergency crews could secure and clear the scene. News 12 Westchester reported that Bravo Coello was pronounced dead at the scene and that investigators are still working to reconstruct the exact sequence of impacts. The New York State Police say the probe is continuing and that more information will be released as it becomes available.
Why This Stretch Draws Scrutiny
The Bear Mountain State Parkway has long drawn criticism over crash risks, and state Department of Transportation proposals over the years have included adding median barriers, adjusting turn lanes and upgrading signals in an effort to cut down on crossover collisions. Local coverage has documented years of community pressure for safety fixes and debate over whether patchwork changes would do enough to prevent deadly head-on crashes. For background on earlier plans and neighborhood reaction, see Patch.
Initial reports of the fatal crash on the parkway and the identification of Bravo Coello were first carried by local outlets, including Daily Voice, as state investigators released details to reporters while the inquiry has progressed.
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