A 29-year-old Hudson Valley man passed away after sustaining severe burns in an incident at Wickham Woodlands Park in Orange County.
The tragic event unfolded last Tuesday at approximately 5:50 p.m., near the sports complex on State School Road in Warwick. Responding to a report of a burn victim, Warwick Police found the man on a dock with critical burns, prompting immediate aid.
After the discovery, the man was airlifted to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, where he was later pronounced dead. To extinguish the flames, the victim reportedly entered Wickham Lake. Mark Lieb of Rockland Video Productions, present at the scene, observed officers gathering evidence from a Volkswagen Jetta before towing it away.
Warwick Police Chief John Rader indicated that the investigation is in its preliminary stages but suggested that the incident is likely related to mental health concerns rather than foul play. Although the victim has not been publicly identified, authorities interviewed multiple individuals present at the park during the occurrence and encouraged anyone with relevant information to contact Warwick Police at 845-986-5000.