Fatal motor vehicle collision on State Route 209 in the town of Wawarsing leaves one woman dead and another driver injured after a head-on crash

New York – A tragic head-on collision along State Route 209 in the town of Wawarsing claimed the life of a local woman and left another driver injured on the morning of September 30, 2025.

According to New York State Police, the crash occurred shortly before 7:50 a.m. when troopers from the Ellenville barracks responded to reports of a serious two-vehicle accident. The preliminary investigation determined that a 2021 Hyundai, traveling northbound, veered from its lane and struck a 2004 Gulf Stream Conquest motorhome head-on. The violent impact set the Hyundai ablaze within moments.

The driver of the Hyundai, identified as 36-year-old Elsa M. Booth of Ellenville, was pulled from the burning vehicle by emergency responders. Despite rapid efforts to save her, officials confirmed that she did not survive the injuries sustained in the crash. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Authorities said the driver of the motorhome, 68-year-old Diane R. Delehanty of Livingston, Texas, was also trapped inside her vehicle following the collision. Rescue crews were able to extricate her, and she was transported to Garnet Health Medical Center. Police reported that her injuries are not considered life-threatening.

The incident left the normally busy stretch of Route 209 shut down for hours as state police investigators, firefighters, and emergency medical teams worked the scene. Crews battled the car fire, secured the vehicles, and documented evidence in hopes of piecing together the moments leading up to the fatal collision.

Traffic along the corridor was diverted for much of the morning, and residents in the area described long lines of vehicles and the sight of smoke rising above the roadway. Many stopped to reflect on the sudden loss of life.

State Police confirmed that the investigation remains active, though the initial findings suggest that Booth’s Hyundai failed to keep right before colliding with the oncoming motorhome.
Officials have not released any additional details about why the vehicle may have crossed lanes, and it remains unclear whether speed, distraction, or another factor played a role.

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This fatal crash has left the Ellenville community shaken. Booth, only 36, was remembered by neighbors as someone who grew up in the area and often drove that stretch of Route 209. For Delehanty, who was traveling through the region, the crash turned what may have been a routine drive into a life-altering moment.

Troopers stressed that while they continue to investigate, the case underscores the dangers of highway driving and the importance of staying alert and within one’s lane. The wreckage of both vehicles, combined with the fire that engulfed Booth’s car, served as a sobering reminder of how quickly accidents can escalate into tragedy.

As the Wawarsing community absorbs the loss, authorities are urging anyone with additional information about the crash to contact State Police in Ellenville.