A bright yellow Ford Mustang came flying out of Harriman State Park Monday evening just after 8 p.m., with NYS Park Police in hot pursuit down Seven Lakes Drive toward the village. As the Mustang reportedly reached speeds of up to 100 miles per hour, the driver zoomed under the Thruway overpass and lost control of his vehicle near Waldron Terrace.

The Mustang hit a fence at 41 Seven Lakes Drive, clipped a car legally parked along the street and sent the previously parked car flipping down the road where it ignited into flames. The Sloatsburg Volunteer Fire Department and Sloatsburg Volunteer Ambulance Corp responded to the incident.

The Mustang came to a stop on the side of the road, with the driver reportedly uninjured due to his seatbelt and airbag release. The SFD put out the vehicle fire while residents moved two other cars to safety that were near the burning car and in danger from heat and flames.

The driver of the Mustang refused medical attention and was reportedly soon after arrested by NYS Park Police as a possible DWI suspect.

Members of the SFD were highly visible on the scene in their new black turnout gear with bright yellow reflective striping.

The Monday evening incident started the week off with a bang for Sloatsburg’s first responders after many in the department spent all day Sunday at the Rockland County Fire Training facility throwing themselves out of an open window during bailout system training. With only an anchor hook and rope, the firefighters practiced lowering themselves down a three-story structure to safety.

On October 12, members of the SFD will hold a meet your firefighters event for Fire Prevention Day at the Village Hall parking lot, where they will demonstrate how to rescue with the jaws of life equipment by cutting up several cars. The public is invited and there will be refreshments.