Wallkill, NY (June 29, 2025) — A tragic crash on Interstate 84 westbound claimed the life of a motorcyclist Friday morning in the town of Wallkill, according to state police.

According to reports, troopers from the New York State Police Uniform Force and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation responded to the scene around 8:35 a.m. on June 27 near mile marker 24.1. Their preliminary investigation revealed that a 2008 Honda Accord, driven by Josanne Pottinger-Smith, 53, of Newburgh, was heading westbound on I-84 when it struck a 2014 Harley Davidson motorcycle operated by Charles Helmka, 52, of Dracut, Massachusetts.

The force of the collision pushed both the car and motorcycle off the roadway into the median along the south shoulder. Emergency medical services transported Helmka to Garnet Health Medical Center in Wallkill, where he was pronounced dead. Pottinger-Smith was also taken to the hospital and treated for minor injuries.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office assisted troopers at the scene as the investigation into this fatal crash continues.

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PLEASE TAKE NOTICE

The information in this article is based on initial reports from local authorities and may be subject to updates as investigations continue.

• The identities of those involved in the incident have not been released pending official confirmation and notification of next of kin.
• Further details about the accident, including toxicology results and potential charges, will be shared as they become available.
• Road closures and traffic updates related to the accident scene can be found by checking with local authorities or traffic monitoring services.

The content of this news story is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or medical advice. All information is based on public reports at the time of publication, and details may change as investigations progress. Readers are encouraged to seek legal counsel if they or someone they know have been involved in a similar incident. The publisher assumes no liability for actions taken or not taken based on the information provided in this article. Learn more with our disclaimer.