On Monday, a motorcyclist was killed in the town of Highlands in a crash with another vehicle, whose driver subsequently fled the scene.
Today, police arrested the man they believe to be the driver: Rene Morataya, 55, of Mount Kisco. He was charged with one count of leaving the scene of an incident which resulted in death, a felony.
This investigation began Monday, Oct. 1 after Town of Highlands Police and State Police responded to a hit and run motor vehicle accident that occurred on State Route 9W in the Town of Highlands at approximately 8:21 p.m. The accident occurred when a tan colored 1998 Toyota 4-Runner, believed to be operated by Rene Morataya, traveling northbound on State Route 9W attempted to make an illegal U-turn into the southbound lanes of travel. A motorcycle operated by George Guy, 62, of Highland Falls, was also traveling northbound on 9W in the passing lane and was unable to avoid the 4-Runner as it made the illegal U-turn and subsequently collided into the driver’s side of the Toyota SUV. George Guy was ejected from his motorcycle and died at the scene. After the collision, the driver fled the scene in his heavily damaged SUV.
Morataya was arrested by state troopers yesterday in the area of Crompond Road in Cortlandt, Westchester County. He was then transported to the State Police Monroe station where he was processed for the arrest. Morataya was then arraigned at the Town of Monroe Court before Judge Audra Schwartz. Judge Schwartz set bail at $20,000 cash and Rene Morataya was then remanded to the custody of the Orange County Sheriff.
The State Police and the Town of Highlands Police Department were assisted in this investigation by the West Point Military Police, the Westchester County Police Department and the City of Peekskill Police Department. The investigation into this incident is continuing and anyone who has any information is being asked to contact the State Police in Middletown at 845-344-5300, reference case #9182887.
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