Inexperience Causes U-turn Crash

Carmel firefighters check for leaking fluids in the damaged Toyota as EMS personnel assist a woman injured in the crash. Eric Gross Driver inexperience is being described as the cause of a morning crash in Carmel.

Carmel Police said a 17-year-old Carmel youth allegedly made a Uturn resulting in a two-vehicle mishap that sent two people to the hospital.

The accident occurred last week around 8:30am on Route 301 at Sunset Ridge when Police Chief Michael Johnson said a Mercury sedan operated by Gabriel Ramirez, 17, was traveling on Route 301 when he turned abruptly into the side street and attempted to re-enter the highway when his car pulled into the path of a Toyota driven by Danielle Marino, 27, of Patterson, that was headed westbound.

The impact caused considerable front-end damage to the woman’s car. Marino complained of a headache and was transported by members of the Carmel Volunteer Ambulance Corps to Putnam Hospital Center.

Ramirez suffered a leg injury and he was also taken to the hospital by ambulance for treatment.

Chief Johnson said investigating Officer Stephen McCabe did not issue any summons.

Assisting at the scene were members of the Carmel Fire Department under the direction of Assistant Chief Robert Lipton along with the Carmel FD Fire Police and a representative of the Putnam Bureau of Emergency Services.

The road was closed for 30 minutes until the two drivers were taken to the hospital and tow trucks carted away the damaged vehicles, resulting in a traffic tie-up during the morning rushhour period.