AT 1:45 p.m. on Tusday, October 29, 2024, Village of Monticello Police responded to a 911 report of a person trapped underneath a vehicle in the parking lot of ‘Tilly’s Diner” located at 34 Raceway Road.

A 70-year-old Mongaup Valley man had been involved in a minor property damage accident in the parking lot. While getting out to inspect the damage to his vehicle, a 2015 Ford Explorer, the vehicle suddenly accelerated in reverse. The driver was then dragged under his vehicle and across the parking lot, with the vehicle coming to a stop with his legs and chest still under the vehicle.

Monticello Police Lt. Mark Johnstone arrived quickly on scene and immediately commandeered a Prestige Towing flatbed truck that was also parked in the Diner’s lot. With the assistance of Prestige employees Joseph Hand Jr. and Kevin Walden, they lifted up the vehicle and the victim was pulled out from underneath. The victim was transported to Garnet Orange Medical Center, in stable condition by Empress EMS.

Additionally responding and assisting at the scene were the Monticello Fire Department and Sullivan County Sheriff Office.