A New York City couple and a man engaged to their daughter have died in a car crash upstate, police say. The family was returning from the Catskills Monday when their vehicle rolled over several times on Route 17 in Mamakating, state police said. Morris and Beth Faitelewicz and Yehuda Bayme died in the crash. The Faitelewiczes' grown children, who are in their mid to late 20s, were also in the car and taken to the hospital in critical condition, but they were improving, a family friend said. Oldest son Yaakov sustained three broken fingers, daughter Shani is in critical condition and youngest son Avi, who just graduated with a degree in engineering, is also in critical condition, officials say. Bayme and Shani Faitelewicz got engaged on June 28, and were set to wed next year, relatives said. Morris Faitelewicz, a volunteer Hatzolah medic, and Beth Faitelewicz, an emergency room nurse at Beth Israel, were both well known on the Lower East Side, where they lived. They both worked in the Sept. 11 recovery operations, family friends said; Morris was among the first to rush to the World Trade Center, and Beth recounted the harrowing hospital tales from the attacks to friends. "She always told the story how she and her coworkers waited for survivors, victims to come in wounded from 9/11, and nobody ever came. That's when they realized there were no survivors," said family friend Betty Goodman, who's known the family for almost 20 years. Morris was also a longtime member of Community Board 3 and served as an auxiliary police officer for over 30 years. "They were hardworking, just a good family, welcomed everyone into their home," Goodman said. "I can't comprehend. I'm literally in shock, the whole neighborhood is in shock," said another family friend, Ira Keller.
e following statement was given to YWN by the NewYork State Police:
The State Police in Wurtsboro are investigating a one car fatal motor vehicle accident that claimed the lives of three New York City residents. The accident occurred on 09/07/15 at approximately 4:30 PM on State Route 17 eastbound near Exit 112 in the Town of Mamakating. The vehicle, occupied by six family members, was returning to New York City after spending the weekend at a resort in the Ellenville area.
Based upon the initial investigation, the vehicle was traveling eastbound in the driving lane (right lane) and attempts to move into the passing lane (left lane). An uninvolved vehicle was already in the passing lane so the vehicle’s operator quickly steers back into the the driving lane. The operator overcorrects the steering and leaves the roadway off of the right shoulder. The operator again overcorrects the steering to the left causing the vehicle to overturn. The vehicle rolls on to its side, becomes airborn, and rolls several more times before finally coming to rest.
The deceased were identified as Morris Faitelewicz age 58 (vehicle operator), his wife Beth Faitelewicz age 54 both of New York City, and their soon to be son-in-law Yehuda Bayme age 31 of the Bronx. The other passengers in the vehicle were Jason Faitelewicz age 29, Sheryl Faitelewicz age 27, and Alan Faitelewicz age 23 all of New York City and children of Morris and Beth Faitelewicz.
The accident was investigated by State Police Members from the Wurtsboro and Liberty barracks, SP Wurtsboro BCI, Troop F Forensic Investigation Unit, and the Troop F Collision Reconstruction Unit. The State Police were assisted at the scene by Hatzolah and the Wurtsboro Fire Department. The cause of the accident remains under investigation and any persons with information are asked to contact SP Wurtsboro BCI at (845) 888-5379.