Cortlandt, NY (May 16, 2026) – A 28-year-old man was killed, and two others were injured early Friday morning in a multi-vehicle crash on a parkway between Locust Avenue and Arlo Lane in Cortlandt.
New York State Police said the crash occurred around 5 a.m. on May 15, when a Subaru driven westbound by Darly G. Bravo Coello of Yorktown Heights crossed the double yellow line and struck a Honda head-on. The Honda was driven by 54-year-old Charles D. Mooney of New Windsor.
Authorities said the force of the impact pushed the Honda onto the northern shoulder of the roadway. A third vehicle, a Toyota driven eastbound by 44-year-old Manuel S. Pauta Zhingri of Peekskill, then struck the disabled Subaru.
Investigators said Coello exited his vehicle after the initial crash and was struck by the Toyota while outside the car. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The drivers of the Honda and Toyota were transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
The crash remains under investigation by the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Collision Reconstruction Unit.
We extend our sincere condolences to the family of the deceased and are thinking of those injured as they recover.
What Factors Are Often Reviewed in Multi-Vehicle Highway Crashes?
Multi-vehicle crashes often require investigators to reconstruct the sequence of impacts using vehicle positions, roadway markings, and debris fields. These details help determine how the initial collision led to secondary impacts involving other drivers.
Investigators also examine lane departure behavior, speed, and driver reaction time, especially when vehicles cross center lines or become disabled in active lanes. In cases where occupants exit vehicles after a crash, visibility and traffic flow become key factors in understanding subsequent impacts. Medical reports and crash reconstruction data are typically used together to clarify how each collision occurred and why it escalated into a multi-vehicle incident.
