STONY POINT, NY – A man in his 20s was killed early Sunday morning when his SUV went airborne and slammed into the second floor of a mixed-use building on North Liberty Drive, according to officials.
The crash occurred just before 1 a.m. at 52 North Liberty Drive, a two-story yellow structure with a commercial business on the first floor and apartments above. Stony Point Fire Department Chief Kurt Mulligan described it as a “significant vehicle accident” requiring emergency response for both structural damage and victim extrication.
Investigators say the driver was traveling northbound when he lost control at the intersection of Ten Eyck Street. Surveillance footage from a nearby residence shows the SUV jumping a curb, becoming airborne over a parking lot, and striking the upper floor. The impact damaged the building’s chimney before the vehicle fell to the ground.
At the time of the crash, about five people were sleeping in the upstairs apartments. Thankfully, none were injured, and all were able to evacuate safely.
Firefighters extricated the driver, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Friends present told reporters he had been returning home from a birthday celebration.
The building, which houses a restaurant on the ground level, suffered extensive structural damage. Local authorities are assessing its stability as the investigation into the cause of the crash continues.
Rockland News will follow up on this story. We will also contact the residents and business owners to see how they are coping with the damage to the building.