State Police are investigating a fatal crash in the town of Blooming Grove

On August 11, 2024, at approximately 8:43 p.m. a trooper was patrolling State Route 17 in the town of Chester when he observed a 2021 Honda CRV in violation of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law. The trooper stopped the vehicle and identified the operator as Ivan Sanchez, age 26, from Jersey City, New Jersey. While speaking with the trooper it was determined that Sanchez was intoxicated by alcohol and was subsequently arrested for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and placed in the rear of the Troop car.

A front seat passenger in the Honda CRV, identified as Elizabeth Arrieta-Gonzalez, age 21 from Union City, New Jersey was also interviewed by the trooper. The trooper’s preliminary investigation determined that Ms. Arrieta-Gonzalez was not impaired, and she was not in custody nor was she the target of a criminal investigation. During the roadside investigation, Arrieta-Gonzalez unexpectedly drove from the scene of the traffic stop in the Honda CRV.  Several minutes later, the white Honda CRV that the Trooper had previously stopped was involved in a collision with an unoccupied trailer on Orange and Rockland Road, in the Town of Blooming Grove. The operator of the Honda CRV was identified as Elizabeth Arrieta-Gonzalez, who was pronounced deceased at the scene. It was later determined that Arrieta-Gonzalez was unlicensed.  

Ivan Sanchez was later processed for DWI and issued an appearance ticket.  The New York State Attorney General’s Office was notified and responded to the scene.

This investigation is being conducted by the New York State Police Troop F Bureau of Investigation and is ongoing.