Community members are mourning the loss of a friend, neighbor, son, brother, father and fiancé who was killed in a horrific car accident on the Bear Mountain Parkway Dec. 9 around 6 p.m.
LaMarr Barnes, a 27-year-old carpenter from Lake Peekskill, was the passenger in 25-year-old Stephanie Florentino’s car heading east on Bear Mountain Parkway Friday night. Cortlandt Resident Keith Roberts, 55, was driving west bound on the parkway when the car in front of him made a left-hand turn. He swerved to avoid hitting that car and collided with Florentino's car. All were rushed to area hospitals and Barnes was pronounced dead at the Hudson Valley Hospital Center.
“This was my son’s best friend who passed. I knew Lamar since he was a toddler and this news is tragic to the family as they mourn this news. May your family find comfort knowing your now with God,” said Tracy Powell Lynch on Patch’s Facebook page.
Other friends wrote heart-broken messages on , many remembering him as a good friend and father. Barnes was engaged to Mari Peruyero and has a son named Exavier LaMarr Barnes. LaMarr is remembered as someone who brought joy and laughter to family and friends.
No one has been charged in the accident, but police are still investigating, said New York State Police investigator Robert Mollica. The two drivers involved were transported to area hospitals as well, but had suffered minor injuries, police said. Barnes may not have been wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, Mollica said.
On Friday night, police were asking for the third driver, who made the left-hand turn off the parkway onto Locust Ave., to contact them, but they have not heard from that driver. Mollica said that as far as the investigation has revealed, that driver did not break any laws.
“The left hand turn is legal,” Mollica said. “There is a break in the double-yellow line.”
The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at the E.O. Curry Funeral Home, where a Funeral Service will be held Wednesday at 12 p.m., followed by interment at
You can read Barnes’ full obituary . Please share your memories of Barnes in the comments below.
Patch offers its deepest condolences to all friends and family of the young man.
