Witnesses Sought in Route 9W Bicyclist Death

Orangetown police are seeking witnesses to an accident on Sunday along Route 9W in which a 53-year-old Pomona woman was struck by a car and killed.

Accident investigators were out on Route 9W Monday reviewing the scene of the fatality in hopes of better understanding the 1:49 p.m. incident which claimed the life of Janet Martinez. She was riding a bicycle alone on the state highway in the Upper Grandview section of Orangetown.

Police said Martinez was struck while traveling southbound on Route 9W by a Toyota Scion also heading southbound driven by Denise Patawaran, 25, of Sparkill. As of this afternoon, the investigation into the death was continuing and no charges had been filed.

Police said investigators were speaking with Patawaran again today after an initial interview yesterday.

Police said the investigation has been hampered by a lack of witnesses to the incident. Additionally, police said they initially had trouble identifying the victim because she did not have any identification on her.

Martinez had a cell phone and $41 cash on her at the time of the collision. Police said they were able to eventually identify her through her cell phone, however, the phone did not contain basic emergency information that cell phone users frequently imput in the "In Case of Emegnecy" feature.

After being struck, Martinez was assisted by a nurse who lives nearby and an off-duty Yonkers Emergency Service Unit police officer who stopped at the accident scene. She was also assisted by members of Rockland Paramedics.

Martinez and Patawaran were both taken to Nyack Hospital by crews from Nyack Community Ambulance Corps and the Piermont Fire Department ambulance. Martinez died at Nyack Hospital at 2:43 p.m.

Police said Martinez was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Bicyclists who were passing through the area as a group told police they did not believe Martinez was part of any group going through the area by bike on Sunday and that the type of bicycle she was riding was not a type they would expect to see being used on Route 9W.

Police are still uncertain where Martinez was going and where she came from. Investigators ask that anyone with information about the incident or anyone who might have been a witness call at 845-359-3700.

Route 9W was closed for several hours following the incident Sunday.