A Carmel father of seven died following a single-vehicle crash on Route 6 in Carmel Friday night, Oct. 2, that left his wife critically injured, according to published reports and a fundraising campaign established for the family.
Christopher G. “Cricky” Roche, 56, died following the crash. His wife, Siobhan Roche, was also in the vehicle and remained hospitalized in critical condition as of this publication.
Carmel Police reported that the 56-year-old driver of a Dodge Ram pickup was killed in the crash and that a 44-year-old female passenger suffered severe injuries and was airlifted to Westchester Medical Center in critical condition.
According to police and published reports, the crash occurred on Route 6 in the vicinity of Sunset Boulevard. The pickup went out of control, overturned and plunged down a steep embankment, trapping both occupants.
Nearby residents who heard the crash called authorities. Carmel firefighters responded along with Carmel Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Empress Putnam paramedics. Firefighters spent approximately 45 minutes stabilizing the vehicle and extricating the occupants while emergency medical personnel treated them.
New York State Police and members of the Troop K Accident Reconstruction Unit also responded to the scene. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
A GoFundMe campaign established for the Roche family identifies Christopher and Siobhan as the victims of the Oct. 2 crash and says the couple's seven children — Fionn, Laela, Sophia, Aoibhe, Alana, Jake and Eoin — are dealing with the loss of their father while hoping for their mother's recovery.
The fundraiser, organized by family friend Alan O Clerigh, has raised $68,673 toward a $90,000 goal as of Wednesday, Oct. 7.
“Christopher was truly one of a kind,” O Clerigh wrote. “He was the absolute best dad, husband, son, brother, and friend anyone could ask for.”
O Clerigh remembered Roche for his sense of humor and his ability to bring “light and laughter” into a room.
“Together, Christopher and Siobhan built a life centered on love and family,” he wrote.
Money raised through the campaign will be used to help pay funeral and memorial expenses, Siobhan's medical bills and recovery costs, and immediate and longer-term household and living expenses for the couple's children. Both one-time and recurring donations are being accepted.
Those wishing to contribute can find the fundraiser by going to GoFundMe.com and searching “Support the Roche Family After Tragedy.” The campaign lists Alan O Clerigh as the organizer.
For those who would like to donate gift cards to the family, they can go to the GiveInKind page at www.giveinkind.com and search "the Roache Family."
Roche, who was known as “Cricky,” was originally from Kells, County Meath, Ireland, and his death has also drawn an outpouring of support from his native country. IrishCentral reported that Roche was a former member of Gaeil Colmcille and was part of the club's 1991 Meath Senior Football Championship-winning team before emigrating to the United States.
Visitation will be held Friday, Oct. 9, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Joseph J. Smith Funeral Home, 692 Route 6, Mahopac. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, Oct. 10, at 10 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church, 221 East Lake Boulevard, Mahopac.
Additional information about the circumstances surrounding the crash was not immediately available. The investigation is continuing.
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