On April 13, 2024, State Police announce the arrest of Valentino Merceda, age 20 from Clifton, New Jersey following a yearlong investigation of a fatal crash on the Palisades Parkway. He was charged with Manslaughter 2nd degree and arraigned on the Town of Clarkstown Court and remanded to Rockland County Jail. Bail was set at $5,000 cash/$20,000 secured bond.

On April 13, 2023, at approximately 9:45 p.m., Troopers from the state police barracks in Haverstraw responded to a 3-car motor vehicle crash on the Palisades Interstate Parkway southbound in the town of Clarkstown near exit 10. A preliminary investigation revealed that Valentino Merceda, from Irvington, New Jersey, was operating a 2001 BMW traveling south when he and another individual, identified as Cyrus Silverio, age 20, from Clifton, New Jersey, driving a 1992 BMW, also traveling south at a high rate of speed on the exit 10 ramp when they both attempted to pass a 2024 Nissan Rogue. Mercada and Silverio attempted to merge into the right lane colliding with one another. The collision caused the BMW, operated by Silverio to overturn, and strike the Nissan Rogue and a rock bridge abutment, the structure that connects the of the bridge to the ground. Silverio was declared deceased at the scene.