A 23-year-old man allegedly high on drugs sped through a red light at a Rockland County intersection, causing a crash with another vehicle that left a man and woman -- a couple in their 60s married for half a century -- dead, police say.
Matthew Sindone, of Nanuet, was charged with vehicular manslaughter, operation of a motor vehicle impaired by drugs and other offenses in Sunday's horrific 5:15 p.m. accident at Route 304 and Goebel Road in New City.
Sindone was the lone survivor of the crash; he suffered a laceration to the head after his Lincoln MKV collided with a Toyota Camry but is expected to be OK.
Both vehicles were mangled wrecks, first responders said. Firefighters had to use the Jaws of Life to get into the Camry, where they found the driver, 69-year-old Neil Block, already dead. Block's wife, 68-year-old Aline, was pulled out of the destroyed car and taken to an ambulance, but died shortly thereafter.
Family and friends said they were devastated by the deaths of Neil and Aline Block, who were on their home from brunch when Sindone allegedly crashed into them. The couple, who had been married for 47 years, were both retired -- Neil Block worked in the garment industry, his wife was a teacher. They are survived by two children and four grandchildren.
Authorities say Sindone didn't have a license at the time of the crash; it had been suspended because he was a no-show at a court appearance for a traffic violation. He also allegedly had Xanax on him at the time of the crash, investigators say. Toxicology results are pending.
Bail was set at $750,000 following his arraignment Monday. Information on an attorney for Sindone wasn't immediately available.
