WASSAIC — An accident on Route 22 in Wassaic this past Friday afternoon left one Long Island woman dead and halted traffic for approximately five hours.
At roughly 1:45 p.m., Rosita Castronuova, 58, of Elmont, N.Y., was driving her Ford Explorer on Route 81 near the Route 22 junction.
According to the New York State Police, she failed to yield to a dumptruck when she turned onto Route 22.
The vehicles tumbled roughly 200 feet from the intersection.
The truck came to rest on top of Castronuova’s Ford.
She was declared dead at the scene.
An autopsy was conducted at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie.
Truck driver David Handlowich, 37, of Hillsdale, was transported to Sharon Hospital for evaluation and released shortly after.
Due to the accident, both lanes on Route 22 were closed.
Traffic was blocked from the Amenia stoplight to Sinpatch Road in Wassaic by members of the Amenia Fire Company from 1:45. to 7 p.m.
"Both lanes were closed. There was no way of getting through," said Wassaic Fire Chief Robert Boyles, who was at the scene of the accident. "It was a terrible accident."
Boyles thanked members of the Millerton Fire Department, the town of Dover’s J.H. Ketcham Hose Company and the Amenia Fire Company for lending a hand at the scene.
He also gave credit to the Dutchess County Volunteer Fire Police Association, which provided additional manpower.
"We had guys from as far as East Fishkill there," Boyles said. "I can’t thank everybody enough."
Because many roads intersect with Route 22 in the hamlet of Wassaic, someone needed to be at every intersection to direct traffic, Boyles said.
In Boyles’ opinion, this wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the fire police association.
"We needed the extra help to direct people," said the chief.
Justine and Victor Valla in their studio with a painting of Victor’s,”Jonah and the Whale.” Robin Roraback 
A ceramic vase by Kathleen Heidemann.Provided 
Joy Brown’s delightful ceramic sculptures.Provided 
