Wrong-Way Driver Arrested After Route 9 Head-On Crash: Police

PEEKSKILL, NY — A wrong-way crash that seriously injured two drivers has led to felony charges, according to police.

The City of Peekskill Police Department says that on June 8, around 5:30 a.m., the Peekskill Police Department, the Peekskill Fire Department, and Peekskill EMS responded to the area of Rt. 9 South, near the Louisa St. off-ramp, after receiving a report of a motor vehicle accident with at least one driver trapped in the wreckage.

At the scene, officers found a Toyota 4 Runner and a Honda Civic, both with heavy, front-end damage. The drivers of both vehicles received serious injuries and were rushed to Westchester Medical Center for treatment.

An investigation found that the Honda Civic had been traveling the wrong way on Rt. 9, leading to the head-on collision.

On Thursday, the driver of the Honda Civic, Kevin Arevalo-Yanqui, was arrested and arraigned in the City of Peekskill court. He was charged with felony aggravated vehicular assault, felony first-degree vehicular assault, felony second-degree vehicular assault, felony driving while intoxicated, and three felony counts of driving while ability impaired.

Arevalo-Yanqui was remanded to the Westchester County Jail, after bail was established in the amountof $75,000 cash, 10 percent of $150,000 partially secured surety bond, or $100,000 insurance company bail bond.

Peekskill police say this is an ongoing investigation, and anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Peekskill Police Department Detective Division at 914-737-8000 or send an email to this address. Anonymous tips may also be submitted here, under the crime tips section.