Two Bangladeshis among three have been killed and two others seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash on the New York state Thruway in Ontario County.
The accident happened on early Tuesday, according to State Police, reports Democrat and Chronicle.
Trooper Mark O'Donnell said that it appeared that an 81-year-old man from Stowe, Ohio, got confused and was driving the wrong way in the eastbound lanes on the Thruway, when he struck an eastbound car in a head-on crash.
The crash occurred at mile marker 345.6 in Farmington around 1:20am (SGT). For nearly six hours, state troopers closed both eastbound lanes of the highway.
Three people died at the scene — Charles Bargerstock, 81, who was alone in his westbound SUV, and two Bangladeshi men – driver Himel A Joy, 24, and rear-seat passenger Mojammal H Rasel, 30, both from Astoria – in the eastbound car.
A senior official at the Foreign Ministry in Bangladesh confirmed to Dhaka Tribune that two Bangladeshis had died in the accident. They were brothers, and both had US citizenship.
Two passengers in the eastbound car — Moshin Ahmed, 23, and Kenedy Apel, 18, both from Astoria — suffered serious injuries and were taken to Strong Memorial Hospital for treatment, troopers said.
Ahmed remained in guarded condition at the hospital on Tuesday and Apel, who suffered a head injury, was in satisfactory condition, troopers said.
The four men in the eastbound car were from Queens and were driving back to the New York City area following a visit to Niagara Falls, O'Donnell said.
The 81-year-old man was considered a vulnerable man who had been missing, O'Donnell said.
It was reported that he left his residence in Ohio for an appointment at 9:30am. A be-on-the-lookout was issued around 1:30pm on Monday, after it was discovered he never showed up for his appointment.
Authorities believe Bargerstock became confused and drove onto the Thruway, heading the wrong direction from the Clifton Springs service area, for several miles before the crash.
