by Bea Peterson
A recent press release from NYS Police officer Maureen Tuffy stated “While police may never know why Mr. Martinez crossed over into the westbound lane of traffic, leading to the head-on collision with a tractor-trailer, driver fatigue may have been a factor.” The fatal accident occurred around 5 am Sunday morning on Route 7 in Pittstown. Robin C. Martinez, 42, was driving a 2010 Honda Pilot SUV. He, along with front seat passenger Juana Jimenez, 40, and rear seat passengers Jasmil Jimenez, 13, and Cesar Jimenez, 10, were killed. Rear seat passenger Jennifer Jimenez, 15, was injured, as was the tractor-trailer driver John H. Miller, 54, of Brattleboro, VT, who was taken by ambulance to Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington.
According to the release, the Jimenez family had traveled to New York City to pick up Jennifer, who was visiting a relative. They then drove to John F. Kennedy International Airport to pick up Martinez who was returning on an overnight flight from the Dominican Republic. Martinez was driving back from New York City to their home in Bennington, VT, when the crash occurred.
Rensselaer County Legislator Lester Goodermote said, “This is the seventh accident on this stretch of Route 7 since the first of the year.” He said there were two more accidents on Sunday. One occurred on Route 7 east of the traffic light in Hoosick and the other at Route 279. “We are making a formal request of the NYS Department of Transportation to do a full evaluation and safety review of Route 7,” he said. “We want them to check the speed limits, markings, everything. This is a fast highway with a great deal of traffic, and we have certainly had more than our share of accidents.” Goodermote, who lives on Route 7, added that on Fridays the heavy traffic is going east and on Sundays it is going west. “This is a main corridor and sometimes it is almost impossible to pull out onto the highway.”
