Police: Ulster Man Falls Asleep While Driving, Hits Car Carrying 4 Children

Police say an Ulster County man fell asleep while driving and crashed his car into two cars, including one with four children passengers.

Friday afternoon Saugerties Police responded to 9W near the Barclay Heights Diner for a reported three car motor vehicle accident. An investigation revealed that 27-year-old Joshua Wolven, of Saugerties fell asleep behind the wheel of a 2009 Toyota Tacoma Pickup Truck.

Wolven’s vehicle veered across 9W and into the South bound lane, hitting a 2011 Toyota Minivan operated by Amanda Tuccillo, 41, of Saugerties, officials say.

Wolven’s vehicle then continued North in the South bound lane striking a second vehicle head on, a 1999 Mercury Station Wagon driven 51-year-old Melody Helmich, from Catskill.

Both vehicles then traveled off the roadway and hit a sign post in the Simmons Plaza.

All three vehicles sustained extensive damage.

Helmich was treated at the scene by paramedics from DIAZ Ambulance and transported to the Health Alliance Hospital Broadway Campus in Kingston for treatment of neck and back injuries.

Wolven was unhurt in the accident.

Tuccillo and five other passengers--one other adult and four children in the minivan--were all also not injured.

Wolven was ticketed for failure to stay right.

Saugerties Police were assisted at the scene by DIAZ Ambulance, Glasco Fire Department and the NYSP.