New Jersey man charged with manslaughter one year after fatal Palisades Parkway crash

After a yearlong investigation into a fatal crash on the Palisades Parkway, a New Jersey man now faces manslaughter charges.

Valentino Merceda, aged 29, was driving south in Clarkstown near Exit 10 when the incident occurred. Another vehicle, driven by Cyrus Silverio, was also traveling south at high speed.

The collision happened as both Merceda and Silverio attempted to pass a Nissan Rogue and merge into the right lane. Their vehicles crashed into each other, causing Silverio's car to flip over and strike both the Nissan and a rock bridge abutment. Tragically, Silverio was pronounced dead at the scene.

Merceda was arrested this past Saturday, exactly one year after the crash, on charges of manslaughter in connection to the incident. He was arraigned in the Town of Clarkstown Court and subsequently remanded to the Rockland County Jail on a $5,000 cash bail.