2 women killed in alleged DWI crash on Rt. 208

Two people were killed in an alleged drunken driving accident on Route 208 in Blooming Grove Saturday, police say. According to authorities, 20-year-old Melissa Martucci, of Washingtonville, and her

News 12 Staff

Jun 22, 2009, 8:46 PM

Updated 5,513 days ago

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Two people were killed in an alleged drunken driving accident on Route 208 in Blooming Grove Saturday, police say.
According to authorities, 20-year-old Melissa Martucci, of Washingtonville, and her passenger, Marina Petersen, of Connecticut, died after a Mazda driven by 23-year-old Middletown resident Matthew Ponti crashed into their Dodge and sent it over an embankment.
"I don't know if they had enough time to react," says Lt. Brian Shortal, of the New York State Police. "They never left their lane of traffic."
Investigators say Ponti was likely speeding and driving drunk when he lost control of his vehicle, crossed over the center lane and collided with the front of Martucci's car.
Ponti was taken to Westchester Medical Center, where he remains in critical but stable condition. Police say charges have yet to be filed against him.


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