ELLENVILLE, NY — There was a fatal motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Route 209 and Nevele Drive in the Town of Wawarsing on May 3. Seven occupants of a van, all members of a Seventh Day Adventist church in Brooklyn, had been attending a religious retreat at the Honors Haven Resort in Ellenville.

A preliminary investigation revealed that as the van attempted to enter Route 209 from Nevele Drive, the driver failed to stop at a stop sign and was struck in the passenger side by a tractor trailer traveling on Route 209. As a result of the collision, passengers Miguel St Louis, 17, of Brooklyn, Ricadeau Anantua, 33, of Freeport, and Garry Edouard 48, of Wyandanch were killed.

The driver of the van, Guepson Gue, 61, of Brooklyn and an additional passenger, Mario Esteverne Sr., 59, of North Elmont, were airlifted to Westchester Medical Center for treatment.

The remaining two passengers of the van, Ariel Regis, 35, of Brooklyn and Mario Esteverne Jr., 16, of North Elmont, along with the driver of the tractor trailer, Tampie Adams, age 37, of Randleman, NC were transported by ambulance to Ellenville Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. It does not appear that drugs or alcohol played any role in the collision.