Cornwall man suffers minor injuries in fiery crash during medical emergency

The incident happened near 2370 Route 32 just before 10:30 a.m.

Blaise Gomez

Jan 19, 2024, 5:23 PM

Updated 189 days ago

Share:

Authorities say an empty car and abandoned house were hit by a 2017 GMC Sierra pick-up truck. Witnesses say the driver narrowly missed hitting other cars on the road during the incident.
“I saw this car cut me off,” said Sean Galette. “It hit a car first and then ran right into a house.”
A neighbor who was sitting on his porch said he saw the car travel off-road and over a row of bushes before it struck his car and the house next door.
“I was sitting here and next thing I know, I see a truck coming at me, airborne,” the man said.
The neighbor said the dazed driver got out of the car before the fire spread to the house and heard him tell rescuers that he was choking on food when he blacked out and crashed.
“He was choking and next thing he knew he was over there,” the man said.
Cornwall police say the driver was a 53-year-old man from Cornwall and that the house he hit was abandoned.
“I was like shocked,” a neighbor said. “Thank God the car was there otherwise he would’ve got me.”
Firefighters were on scene in frigid temperatures for hours knocking down the fire. Police say the driver suffered minor injuries in the crash and that no one else was hurt.
A portion of Route 32 was closed for several hours while firefighters worked to get the fire under control.
Blaise Gomez's raw footage of fire scene


More from News 12
1:52
Hudson Valley doctors warn of listeria dangers following multi-state outbreak

Hudson Valley doctors warn of listeria dangers following multi-state outbreak

2:04
Sunny skies and warm temps for Saturday in the Hudson Valley

Sunny skies and warm temps for Saturday in the Hudson Valley

0:38
Multimillion-dollar transformation on the way for sections of Hudson Valley

Multimillion-dollar transformation on the way for sections of Hudson Valley

0:49
New basketball documentary film 'The Process' has ties to Westchester

New basketball documentary film 'The Process' has ties to Westchester

0:49
Olympic watch party in Pomona cheers on Rockland athletes

Olympic watch party in Pomona cheers on Rockland athletes

0:32
Veteran firefighter who suffered stroke receives warm welcome home

Veteran firefighter who suffered stroke receives warm welcome home

0:17
Yorktown police sergeant celebrates final walkout following 2 decades of service

Yorktown police sergeant celebrates final walkout following 2 decades of service

1:40
Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

0:52
Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

0:37
2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

1:30
Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

0:56
News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

1:02
Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

1:37
Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

2:33
Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

0:32
NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

0:40
State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

0:34
Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

0:40
Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

0:34
Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued

Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued