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Zachary L. Tokson was charged with the Class E felony after a preliminary investigation revealed that Tokson drove a 2003 Lexus RX300 from the Bedford rest area onto I-684 northbound in the southbound lanes and collided head-on with a 2001 Ford Focus operated by 64-year-old Elena Lopez of Mount Kisco, state police said.
Tokson’s vehicle was then struck by a 2015 Chevrolet Traverse, operated by 44-year-old Paula Pinheiro-Aloy of Ridgefield, Conn., who was also traveling southbound, according to police.
Lopez was the sole occupant of her vehicle and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Tokson and his passenger sustained non-life threatening injuries and were taken to Westchester Medical Center for treatment. Pinheiro-Aloy and her passenger were not injured.
The crash led to the closure of all southbound lanes south of Exit 6 (Route 35) on I-684 for approximately four hours.
Tokson was arraigned in the Town of Bedford Court before Town Justice Eric Jacobsen and remanded to the Westchester County Jail in lieu of $75,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond and ordered to return to the Town of Bedford Court on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m.
Whether or not alcohol involvement was a factor in the collision is still under investigation, police said. Anyone with information regarding the crash is asked to call the New York State Police at Somers by calling (914) 277-3177 or (914) 769-2600.
The New York State Police were assisted at the scene by Bedford Police Department, Bedford Fire Department, Katonah Fire Department, Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, Westchester County Medical Examiner’s Office and the New York State Department of Transportation.
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