A 43-year-old Orange County man who died while trying to help victims of a DWI crash near the Palisades Center has been identified by family and friends as Griffin A. Williams, a manager at the West Nyack Dave & Buster’s.
Williams, of Maybrook, died early Tuesday morning after attempting to assist people involved in a crash on Palisades Center Drive, according to Clarkstown police.
Police: Williams tried to help after DWI crash
Police said Williams stopped after seeing a green Toyota Camry strike a guardrail, crash through a fence and overturn onto the driver’s side near Home Depot around 1:20 a.m. Tuesday.
The vehicle’s occupants — an 18-year-old female driver and a 32-year-old male passenger — had exited the vehicle by the time officers arrived.
The passenger told police that another motorist,
later identified as Williams, had stopped to help but could not be located.
Good Samaritan found dead below roadway
Police said the driver could be heard calling for help from an area about 30 to 40 feet below the roadway in dense vegetation near a retaining wall.
The driver and an unresponsive Williams were later found below the roadway.
Williams was pronounced dead at the scene. Police believe Williams heard the driver calling for help and attempted to reach her, but fell down the embankment and suffered fatal injuries.
The driver was charged with driving while intoxicated and other traffic violations.
Williams remembered as community member
According to his obituary, Williams was born Sept. 1, 1982, in Newburgh. At the time of his death, he worked as a manager at Dave & Buster’s in West Nyack.
His family described him as a devoted New York Mets fan who enjoyed spending time at Citi Field, as well as an avid motorcycle rider, photographer and gardener.
Williams is survived by his mother, sisters, nieces, nephews, his cat Bella and extended family. He was preceded in death by his father, Griffin H. Williams, along with his maternal and paternal grandparents and other relatives.
Funeral services announced
A wake for Williams will be held Monday, Aug. 3, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Millspaugh Funeral Home in Walden.
A funeral service will follow at 7 p.m.
The family is asking that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to [organization information not provided].
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Good Samaritan who died helping crash victims at Palisades Center identified
