Local News
Port Jervis resident injured after striking pole
By Sharon E. Siegel
Jul 21, 2008, 20:59 PST

A stretch of the lower section of Pike Street in Port Jervis was closed to traffic for about a half-hour after an erratically-driven 1996 Pontiac four-door sedan made its way along several city streets and plowed into a utility pole adjacent to Orange and Rockland’s Pike Street building.

The vehicle, driven by 76-year old Miguel A. Castillo of Port Jervis, was reported by witnesses to have been traveling south on Pike Street just before 6 p.m. when it crossed into the northbound lane of Pike Street and through a portion of the downtown Centennial Park. The driver then corrected his vehicle back into the southbound lane of Pike Street, crossed under the railroad underpass, and subsequently struck a utility pole near the New York/Pennsylvania Mid-Delaware Bridge.

Off-duty Orange County Sheriff’s employee Carol Dubois said she spotted the vehicle as it veered across the lane on Pike Street into the park, and she decided to follow it with her truck.

“I saw the vehicle come down Hammond Street and cross the median on Pike Street. I wasn’t sure what was wrong, but I was hoping I could somehow get the keys out of the vehicle before someone was injured,” said Dubois, who followed the vehicle under the underpass. “It nearly hit another vehicle before swerving into the pole.”

Dubois’ accounting of the situation was verified by other local witnesses, one of whom said a Port Jervis firefighter reached into the car and removed the keys after it hit the pole.

Castillo, who was ticketed for several violations, was transported by ambulance to Bon Secours Community Hospital for evaluation. His vehicle was towed from the scene.

Port Jervis Police Department, Fire Department and Ambulance Corps assisted at the scene.