Somers Man Dies in 3-Car Crash on Route 118

An 82-year-old Somers man died on Tuesday following a three-car accident on Route 118 in the town of Somers, state police said.

Dimitrios Caratzas was a passenger in a vehicle that was struck head-on in the accident. Caratzas was transported to the Putnam Hospital Center in Carmel where he was pronounced dead. 

Police said the accident occurred on Aug. 27 at about 2 p.m. when a 30-year-old Patterson man—driver of a Toyota Tundra Pickup—swerved to avoid a 2012 Hyundai Sonata, which was stopped in traffic waiting for another vehicle to make a left turn onto Overhill Road.

The man clipped the rear corner of the Hyundai Sonata and then struck a northbound 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe head-on. 

The Santa Fe was operated by a 70-year-old Somers woman, whose passenger was the deceased Caratzas. She was hospitalized for chest injuries.

The driver of the Toyota was treated and released for minor injuries. He was issued traffic tickets for unlicensed operation, following too closely and failure to keep right, state police said.

Investigation is continuing into the cause of the accident.