Charges updated in Mohegan Lake hit-and-run

Posted Tuesday, January 7, 2025 2:00 pm

Emile Menasché

YORKTOWN, N.Y. — A 42-year-old Mohegan Lake woman died in a hit-and-run accident last night (Jan. 3) after being struck by a car while walking on East Main Street (Route 6) near Mohegan Avenue.

Police identified the alleged perpetrator as Jake Barak, a 24-year-old Cortlandt Manor resident. Barak faces one class D felony count of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. Police officials sent an updated press release removing previously mentioned traffic violations for speeding and driving in the wrong lane.

According to a press release, officers responded to reports of a pedestrian struck on East Main Street near Mohegan Avenue at approximately 8:06 p.m. When they arrived, they located the victim and provided aid with assistance from Yorktown Paramedics, the Mohegan Fire Department, and Mohegan Ambulance.

The victim, later identified as Jennifer Proeschel, was pronounced dead a short time later at a hospital.

Following an investigation, police said Barak was traveling westbound on East Main Street when he struck Proeschel and fled the scene in his car.

The Yorktown Police Department’s Accident Investigation Unit and Detective Bureau, along with the Westchester County Police Department Accident Investigation Unit and the Westchester County Real Time Crime Center, led the investigation.

After identifying Barak’s vehicle, police from Yorktown and the New York State Police went to his residence, located the vehicle, and arrested him.

Barak was taken into custody and transported to the Yorktown Police Department for processing. He is currently awaiting arraignment in Yorktown Justice Court. Route 6 was closed to traffic during the investigation.

In a Facebook post, Chief Robert Noble said first responders did everything they could to save the victim.

“Sadly, Friday evening, members of the Yorktown Police Department were called to respond to the scene of a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle in the vicinity of Route 6 [East Main St.] and Mohegan Avenue," he wrote. “The vehicle involved left the scene of the accident. Despite CPR administered by the first Yorktown police officer on scene, who was quickly assisted by Lake Mohegan Firefighters and an Empress Paramedic, the pedestrian struck would eventually succumb to her injuries.”

Noble praised investigators for identifying the alleged driver quickly.

“Through excellent police work, intelligently performed by members of the Yorktown Police Department, as well as with assistance provided by our partners in law enforcement, and members of our local community, an arrest was made in the overnight hours,” wrote Noble, who also thanked “a civilian witness who remained at the scene” and the following agencies and local establishments for their assistance: