July 8, 2024
On July 7, 2024, at approximately 1:50pm, Troopers from the State Police barracks in Monroe, responded State Route 9W northbound, in the town of Highlands, for a serious motor vehicle accident. A preliminary investigation determined that Christopher Bernal, age 23, was operating a 2004 Honda motorcycle, northbound on SR 9W, when he failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway, causing him to exit the roadway and strike a parked occupied 2023 GMC Acadia, in a scenic pull-off. Bernal was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital by Town of Highlands EMS, who attempted to perform live saving measures, and he subsequently succumbed to his injuries. The front seat passenger of the GMC was transported to St. Lukes Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The investigation is ongoing.