On May 27, 2012, the New York State Police in Monroe investigated a fatal motor vehicle accident involving four vehicles on State Route 17 in the town of Woodbury. The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2000 Volkwagon Jetta operated by Jerome Stewart, 33, of Newark, NJ, was traveling south on State Route 17 when he came upon two vehicles stopped in the southbound left lane waiting to turn left into the Harriman Train Station. Stewart struck the rear of a 2005 Toyota operated by Jaznel Stewart, 21, (no relation to Jerome Stewart) of Newburgh, NY, who was stopped behind and subsequently struck a 2002 Saturn operated by Samantha Straub, 21, of Newburgh, NY.

The vehicle operated by Jerome Stewart then veered into the north bound lane of traffic, where it struck head on a 2000 Chrysler Van operated by Paul Force, 74, of Woodlake Park, NJ.

Force was traveling with his wife Sarah, who was the front seat passenger. Sarah Force, 66, was extricated from the vehicle by the Fire Department and treated at the scene by EMS. Sarah was then transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, NY where she succumbed to her injuries.

Jerome Stewart and his passengers Valma Thompson, 55, and Eunic Thompson, 62, were transported to the Orange Regional Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries. All persons involved were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident.

State Route 17 was closed for over four hours while the accident was investigated. The emergency services that responded and assisted at the scene were as follows: Town of Tuxedo PD, Town of Woodbury Volunteer Fire Department, Tuxedo Volunteer Fire Department, Town of Woodbury Volunteer Ambulance, and Mobil Life EMS. The investigation is continuing at this time.