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Mother Drives Minivan Into Hudson, Killing Herself And 3 Kids
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 13, 2011
Modified Apr 13, 2011
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By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 13, 2011
Modified Apr 13, 2011
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Last night, a woman drove her minivan with her four children—ages 11 months to 10 years old—to the Hudson River in Newburgh, NY. She let the 10-year-old boy out, but then she continued driving into the river, drowning herself and a 5-year-old boy, a 2-year-old boy, and an 11-month-old girl. Apparently the women fled her husband after a domestic dispute.
The 10-year-old ran to a fire station just before 8 p.m. and told them that his mother had driven the vehicle into the river. Newburgh Fire Chief Michael Vatter said, "We commenced a search using the City of Newburgh fire boat and swimmers, Newburgh police divers and a state police helicopter. After about an hour of searching, we located the vehicle in about 8 to 10 feet of water, about 25 yards off shore.
The investigation is continuing, but it may have been a murder-suicide. Newburgh Police Chief Michael Ferrara said that police responded to a reported domestic dispute at 7:45 p.m. at the woman's home. According to the Times Herald Record, "When officers arrived at the address, however, there was no one inside. Minutes later, the 10-year-old showed up at the fire station to tell them what had happened." Ferrara added, "It's a horrible sight, all of them in the car."
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drowning
hudson river
murder-suicide
newburgh
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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