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State police say one person died in a fiery crash in Orange County Wednesday night. The incident began shortly after 10 p.m. on Route 17 in Sullivan County, according to authorities who say they initially received a 911 alert of a motorist traveling east in westbound lanes.
State police say a City of Middletown police officer tried to stop a 2008 Ford F-150 operated by 32-year-old Amiel Maerling, of Greenfield Park, between exits 119 and 118. Maerling allegedly drove through a barricade before crashing into a tractor-trailer head-on near Exit 122 in Goshen. Sources say Maerling was traveling over 100 mph with police in tow when he crashed. Police say the collision occurred at 10:15 p.m. Video of the scene shows both vehicles heavily engulfed in smoke and flames with numerous EMS, fire and police officials there. State police have indicated that the tractor-trailer driver suffered serious injuries that are not considered life-threatening. The incident shut down the area to traffic for hours during efforts to extinguish the fire and investigation. State police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash or the moments before to call them at 845-344-5300 and reference RMS number NY2400711498. ”