Man Who Ran from Ossining Car Accident Found in Ravine

A highly decorated former New York City police detective found a man who investigators say ran away from a car accident on Route 9 south of the entrance to St. Augustine's Church. Nelson Dones says he was at home and almost asleep when he thought he heard something outside his home on Mystic Drive around 1 a.m.

"I heard somebody yelling, 'Help.' But it wasn't consistent, so I thought I was hearing things… But then I heard someone say, 'Somebody help me.'"

Dones then got into his car and started driving around—listening for the cries for help to continue, but they didn't. After rolling his window down, he was ready to give up and go back home. But just as he got ready to drive away, he heard the cries for help once again.

"I hear it's coming from inside the woods. So I went back in the house, called 911 and then waited for the cops outside," said Dones, who beat stage four cancer during his 31-year career with the NYPD before retiring last year.

Ossining Police were able to locate the man, who was unable to move in a ravine off Route 9. Ossining's Bravest and Finest worked alongside the Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corp to carry the man out of the ravine (You can see the tape of first responders carrying him out by clicking on the video to the right of this story).

As it turns out, Ossining Police had been looking for the man who had been crying out helplessly in the dark. Investigators say 50-year-old Purdys resident Tom Lande had rear-ended a car on Route 9 six-hours earlier, while driving his 2003 Jaguar. Police say after the cars collided, he ran away from the scene of the accident. Police believe that when he was running away he accidentally fell into the ravine and was knocked out. 

Authorities say Lande was taken to Westchester Medical Center with multiple injuries. Right now, he is in the intensive care unit. The driver of the car Lande hit was not injured.

Lande is being charged with leaving the scene of an accident, which is a misdemeanor. Investigators are still trying to figure out why he ran from the accident. At this time, it is unknown as to whether any additional charges will be filed in connection with the accident.