Man indicted in fatal wrong-way car accident on Route 9 in Peekskill

PEEKSKILL, NEW YORK, NY – Prosecutors have announced the indictment of a driver in connection with a deadly wrong-way car accident in Westchester County last year, the Journal News reported.

The Westchester County District Attorney said 42-year-old Mark Cope of Yorktown is facing multiple felony charges in the case, including aggravated vehicular homicide and second-degree manslaughter.

The crash occurred Dec. 23, 2020 on Route 9 in Peekskill shortly after 9 p.m. According to investigators, Cope was driving north in the southbound lane of Route 9 when he collided head-on with a car driven by 32-year-old Sh’ina McClam of Ossining. McClam was pronounced dead at the scene while two passengers in her car, her 6-year-old daughter and 18-year-old niece, were hospitalized with injuries that were not life-threatening.

Cope was arrested that night, and tests showed that his blood alcohol content at the time of the crash was over twice the legal limit.

Cope was arraigned Monday and was released on bail, with his next court appearance schedule for November 19.

If convicted on the 11 charges in the indictment, he could face a maximum of 25 years in state prison.

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