Two young teens were tragically struck and killed by a car driven by a former well-known judge in Sullivan County.
According to information provided to YWN by the NY State Police, on Sunday afternoon at approximately 3:15PM, emergency personnel responded to a report of a car pedestrian collision on Glen Wild Road in the town of Thompson (Rock Hill).
A preliminary investigation revealed a 2018 Hyundai Elantra, operated by Isaac Kantrowitz, age 86 of Woodridge, NY, was traveling southbound on Glen Wild Road when he struck two pedestrians walking southbound. The pedestrians were pronounced deceased at the scene and later identified as Justin Finkel, age 14 and Devin Zeininger, age 16, both from the town of Thompson.
Both were students at Monticello High School.
“It is with immense sadness that we join the Monticello community in mourning the unexpected death of a Monticello High School student and a former Robert J. Kaiser Middle School student, the result of an automobile accident,” Superintendent Tammy Mangus said.
A third teen was transported to the hospital and reportedly in stable condition.
Kantrowitz, known by his nickname “Yitz”, is a retired Fallsburg Town justice.
Police said there is no indication that Kantrowitz was in any way impaired at the time of the crash.
Rock Hill EMS responded to the scene to assist.
This is an ongoing investigation. State Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the accident to contact the State Police at Wurtsboro at 845-888-2681 and reference SJS# 8949583
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7 Responses
86 year olds shouldn’t be driving. It’s a fact that one’s reflexes get slower as we age. I have given myself another 5 years before I give up driving; I need to drive more slowly because I don’t react as quickly to dogs or kids running out into the street or motorbikes zooming up on the inside. Whether or not the Judge caused this tragedy, he needs to stop driving now. So sad. BDE
how much ya wanna bet that he continues driving?
Heartbreaking for these boys and their families. So sad for this driver, he’ll never be the same, whatever the legal consequence. May Hashem comfort them all.
I hear where your coming from, but if someone is otherwise healthy when do you ay stop driving? At 60, 70, 80. For many elderly that drive once they stop they become homebound.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT ALL TO KNOW THAT IM NOT YELLING, I ALWAYS TYPE IN CAPS., IT EASIER FOR ME AND EVERYONE ELSE.
NEXT I WANT ALL TO KNOW THAT THIS IS A TRAGIC EVENT FOR ALL PARTIES INVOLVED. I KNOW YITZ VERY WELL, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT HE IS DISTRAUGHT OVER THE ACCIDENT. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HAVE SAD AND EVEN MAD THE FAMILIES OF THE YOUNG MEN MUST BE FEELING. PLEASE KEEP THEM ALL, IN YOUR PRAYERS. THERE WILL BE TOUGH TIMES AHEAD FOR ALL.
My Mother was classroom teaching in Public School at the age of 86 and retired at age 88. She drove her car until then alert, steady and with good reflexes.
Not many had her ability but some do.
My niece knew the father and paid her respect to the family of one of the boys who lost his life. This story is truly tragic for all. One thing that is left out of this story is the judge was unable to see out of one eye. To my understanding, he either was blind in one eye or had a glass eye. I believe that might have attributed to the accident. I hope he realizes what happened and decides to give up driving so this doesn’t happen again.