Pre-Wedding Crash Claims Life of 3rd Member of New Square Family

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY (VINnews/Sandy Eller) – The horrific accident that claimed the life of two New Square residents has turned even more tragic, with a third victim passing away from injuries sustained during the head on crash.

20 year old Tziporah Deutsch, who sustained an open skull fracture in the collision, succumbed to her injuries this afternoon at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla. As previously reported on VIN News (https://bit.ly/2C62vxo), her father, 42 year old Aharon Shmuel Deutsch, and her brother in law, 22 year old Shlomo Birnhack, both passed away yesterday.

Birnhack was buried last night in New Square. His wife, who underwent emergency brain surgery last night, gave birth to a healthy baby boy this morning and is in stable condition.

The Ford Econoline van was heading to a family wedding in Williamsburg when it left the roadway and struck a tree head on as it traveled on New Hempstead Road near the Palisades Interstate Parkway. News of the tragedy was kept from family members at the wedding until the celebration had ended, with Deutsch’s funeral delayed until well after midnight so that relatives could travel from Williamsburg to New Square for the burial.

Deutsch’s wife, Esther, remains in critical condition. Lieutenant Blaine Howell of the Ramapo Police Department said that all of the other passengers in the van are currently hospitalized with serious injuries.

The driver of the van, 69 year old Jean Tondreau of Hillcrest, has been cooperating with police. Howell said that he was not aware of Tondreau having any prior arrest records and that the cause of the crash is still under investigation at this time.

A fund has been set up to assist the family.