Police investigate fatal crash in Warwick

Warwick - A Warwick woman was killed instantly when her car collided with a truck on Kings Highway near State School Road at 6:15 Tuesday morning. “She was returning from New York City and may have fallen asleep,” said Warwick Police Lieutenant Maslanka about the crash that involved 36-year-old Alison Szambel of Warwick and 38-year-old William Reichal of Westtown. Warwick Fire Department and Ambulance Service performed an extrication of Szambel from her vehicle, a Toyota sedan. Szambel had no identification in her car and family had to identify her at the coroner’s office. The New York State Reconstruction Unit came on scene and is assisting town police in its investigation of why Szambel crossed the yellow line. Police have yet to determine the speed of the crash and await standard toxicology results. Maslanka said police found no evidence Szambel was using a cell phone at the time. According to witness accounts Szambel crossed the double yellow line and struck the oncoming truck head on. Both vehicles came to a stop in the northbound lane. The truck belongs to Sullivan Flotation Systems and Reichal, its operator, was taken by ambulance to St. Anthony Community Hospital and treated for minor injuries. Police reopened Kings Highway at 11:30 a.m.