An early morning drive on the Saw Mill River Parkway turned deadly last weekend when a reported wrong-way crash claimed the life of a 25-year-old Poughkeepsie man in Yonkers.
Westchester County Police say Luis Ba Choc was killed in a two-vehicle collision around 5:40 a.m. Saturday in the southbound lanes, roughly 100 feet south of the Yonkers Avenue interchange. The wreck involved two SUVs and left the parkway shut down for an extended investigation. The driver of the other vehicle was taken to a Bronx hospital with injuries.
The crash was first detailed by News 12 Westchester, which reported that the collision was head-on near Rumsey Road and that there was one person in each SUV. County police said the southbound lanes were closed while officers documented the scene and crews worked to clear the debris.
Investigators later identified the victim as Ba Choc, 25, of Poughkeepsie, according to Daily Voice. Authorities told the outlet they believe Ba Choc's Jeep entered the Saw Mill from Rumsey Road and was traveling north in the southbound lanes when it slammed into a Ford SUV driven by a 58-year-old Dobbs Ferry resident. That driver was transported to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx. County police said toxicology testing will be done to determine whether alcohol or drugs were factors in the crash.
Investigation and road impact
The wreck brought traffic on the normally fast-moving parkway to a standstill on a holiday weekend morning. The New York State Department of Transportation's traffic service flagged the southbound Saw Mill as closed near Exit 5 (Yonkers Avenue) while emergency crews and investigators worked the scene. 511NY showed the closure at mile marker 1.9, and the roadway remained shut for hours as the crash was reconstructed and the site cleared.
Family seeks help
As word of the tragedy spread, Ba Choc's family launched a GoFundMe campaign to help return his body to Guatemala for burial. His brother, Juan Carlos, described him on the fundraising page as "a humble, kind, and incredibly helpful young man," according to Daily Voice.
Westchester County Police say the investigation is ongoing. No criminal charges have been announced.
