Police Probe Cyclist's Death; Victim Had 2 Daughters

are continuing to investigate an accident that in Upper Grandview last Sunday, officials told Patch Wednesday morning.

53-year old Pomona resident Janet Martinez was riding along the winding road at about 2 p.m. when she was struck by a sedan being driven by Denise Patawaran, a 25-year-old from nearby Sparkill.

Patawaran has had no charges filed against her, officials said.

Now, police are seeking witnesses and working to determine what caused the accident—and who may have been at fault.

Police said Martinez was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. She was not carrying identification, however, and police struggled to contact her kin.

Martinez was transported to and died shortly after the accident.

According to Martinez's obituary, she is survived by her daughters Kristina Curti and Jesica Laregui, who live with their families in Valley Cottage and Nyack, respectively. She also has a grandson, Preston Curti.

Martinez worked for over three decades in the Supreme Court's Appellate Division in Manhattan, and "loved the outdoors," the obituary reads.

Martinez's funeral will be held Friday, June 15 at 11 a.m. at Gracepoint Gospel Fellowship (384 New Hempstead Rd., New City.)

Visiting hours are being held Thursday at Gracepoint from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Police have talked with bicyclists who were in the area when the incident occurred; they noted that, to the best of their knowledge, Martinez was not riding with a group.

Neighboring authorities, like and , have noted bicyclists and motorists at odds is nothing new; read Patch's investigation of the issue from last summer .

In Patch's comment stream, a number of readers and residents weighed in on the dangers of biking along 9W.

"9W should ban cycling," one user wrote. "There are alternatives such as River Road, Route 340 and Closter Dock Road. If the bike route were altered and there better signage indicating cyclists, maybe we could make it safer, for both cyclists and motorists."