Three children hospitalized after Jeep strike in Newburgh

Three children were hospitalized after a 2024 Jeep Wrangler struck them on Starrow Drive in the Town of Newburgh, a residential stretch near Route 300 that was lined with police activity for hours. Two of the children were taken to Westchester Medical Center in critical but stable condition, while the third suffered minor injuries after the crash around 6:52 p.m. Thursday, June 4.

The driver was identified as a 52-year-old Newburgh man. The collision happened on a neighborhood street where children were believed to have been outside when the Jeep hit them, turning an early summer evening into a scene that immediately raised concerns about speed, visibility, and how safely motorists are moving through residential blocks.

Police remained on Starrow Drive for hours, examining the roadway, measuring distances, and photographing the area as investigators worked to reconstruct what happened. The Jeep was seen in the investigation zone, and bicycles and debris were reported nearby, underscoring how suddenly the crash unfolded and how violent the impact appears to have been.

Starrow Drive was closed while investigators worked and did not reopen until around midnight. That closure left a visible reminder for nearby residents that the stretch of road is not just a commuter cut-through, but a place where children can be outside in the evening and where drivers need to slow down and pay attention.

For families in the area, the crash has sharpened questions about whether Starrow Drive needs stronger traffic calming, tighter enforcement, or clearer pedestrian protections near Route 300. Even before any formal conclusion about fault, the incident has become a local safety test for a neighborhood that saw three children taken to the hospital in a matter of seconds.

Authorities asked anyone with information to contact investigators as the case remained under review. The immediate concern is the recovery of the children, but the larger issue now is whether this part of Newburgh is safe enough for the people who live and play there.