High-speed crash in Newburgh after trooper traffic stop leaves driver dead

New York State Police say a trooper assigned to the Montgomery Barracks observed a 2012 Volkswagen traveling eastbound on State Route 17K in the Town of Newburgh around 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 1, 2026, in an alleged violation of the Vehicle and Traffic Law. Police reported the driver refused to pull over and fled the scene.

The pursuit lasted about two minutes before the trooper ended the chase after entering the City of Newburgh. The Volkswagen continued eastbound on Broadway at a very high speed and struck a 2002 Toyota that was making a left-hand turn from a business driveway onto Broadway, officials said.

The Volkswagen driver was later identified as 39-year-old Marcus A. Burks of Newburgh. Burks was detained by police at the scene. While in custody, he became unresponsive. Life-saving measures were administered, and he was transported to Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased. Authorities have not released a cause of death.

The driver of the Toyota, a 19-year-old Newburgh resident, and a 20-year-old passenger, also from Newburgh, were taken to Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No other injuries were reported.

Because the person who died did so while in custody, the New York State Attorney General’s Office was notified and responded. New York State Police stated their investigation remains ongoing. Investigators are asking anyone who witnessed the collision to contact the State Police Montgomery Bureau of Criminal Investigation at (845) 344-5300.

The crash raises immediate public safety and policy questions for Orange County residents. High-speed pursuits that begin on town roads and move into denser city corridors create acute risks for bystanders, drivers exiting businesses, and emergency responders. Local officials and law enforcement agencies will face scrutiny over when and how pursuit decisions are made, and whether existing pursuit protocols adequately balance apprehension goals against public safety.

For Newburgh residents directly affected, the incident disrupts a residential and commercial stretch of Broadway and underscores broader concerns about traffic enforcement, holiday-period driving, and emergency response. As the state police continue their inquiry and the Attorney General’s office participates, county and city leaders may be called on to review chase policies, transparency practices, and community communication in the weeks ahead.