Police: Wrong-way Driver Charged After Fatal Route 9 Crash

PEEKSKILL, NY — A Yorktown man accused of driving the wrong way on Route 9 Wednesday night and causing a fatal crash now faces a manslaughter charge.

Police said Mark E. Cope, 41, was driving north in the southbound lanes in a 2018 Audi when he smashed into a 2020 Acura with three occupants.

One of them died. The other two sustained serious but believed to be non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Police said their investigation revealed Cope was under the influence of alcohol.

He was arrested and charged with Vehicular Manslaughter in the 1st degree, a class C felony.

Cope was virtually arraigned before the town of Cortlandt Court and sent to the Westchester County Jail in lieu of $100,000 cash bail or bond. He is next scheduled to appear before the Peekskill City Court on Dec. 29.

State police ask anyone who may have observed the wrong way operation which led to the tragic death to please contact the New York State Police at (914) 769-2600. Ask for the Cortlandt Bureau of Criminal Investigation and refer to case# 9992275.

The crash, which happened about 9 p.m., involved multiple vehicles and closed both sides of Route 9 near the Main Street intersection. Traffic was detoured through Peekskill.

The northbound lanes were reopened before midnight and the southbound side was reopened at 2:20 a.m., police said.

Check back with Patch. This article will be updated.