Driver Killed When Car Plunged Into Byram River Is ID'd

Updated 2:02 p.m.

PORT CHESTER, NY — A driver who was killed when his car crashed into the Byram River in Port Chester early this morning has been identified. One passenger who was able to make it to dry land on their own survived, according to Port Chester police.

The 31-year-old man killed when the SUV plunged into the river has been identified as Juan Garcia-Suchite of Port Chester.

The tragedy unfolded at the end of Purdy Avenue at around 1:30 a.m., Port Chester police said.

At about 1:40 a.m., the Port Chester Police Department got a 911 call about a vehicle that drove into the river from Purdy Ave.

A 36-year-old man, later identified as a passenger in the SUV, Edy Payes Sanchez, of Norwalk, Connecticut, was found sitting on nearby rocks. He told police that Garcia-Suchite was still in the vehicle which was submerged. With assistance from agencies, including the New Rochelle Police Department, the Greenwich Fire Department, the Stamford Fire Department, along with PCFD, the vehicle was located on its roof in the Byram River.

A crane was used to recover the vehicle and the driver, later identified as a 31-year-old Port Chester resident, was declared dead by EMS. Toxicology reports on the driver are pending, according to police.

Investigators said that the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed when it struck a large rock before becoming airborne and landing in the river.

The Port Chester Fire Department said that the search and rescue operation involved divers and specialized crews from the Purchase Fire Department, the Greenwich Fire Department, the Stamford Fire Department and the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services.

The tragedy capped off a busy overnight for first responders.

Shortly before midnight, the Purchase Fire Department was dispatched to a nearby rollover motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Purchase St. and Cottage Ave. While enroute, Harrison police confirmed entrapment at that crash and Rescue 40 from the Port Chester Fire Department was called to help.

Crews began stabilization and extrication efforts. Firefighters from Port Chester and Purchase worked together to remove the roof of the vehicle to gain access to the trapped occupant, who was freed and taken by Harrison EMS to a local hospital.

A short time later, at 1:33 a.m., crews rushed to a crash at the entrance to Purchase College. Purchase Fire along with Harrison EMS were dispatched. Crews on the scene found a single vehicle on its roof. The driver was able to walk away from the crash and was taken to the hospital by Harrison EMS.

At 2:15 a.m., Purchase crews were called to assist the Port Chester Fire Department for the SUV that left the road and ended up in the river.