2 NY EMS providers killed in off-duty crash

By Laura French

ROCKLAND COUNTY, N.Y. — Two New York EMS providers were killed in an off-duty vehicle crash early Monday morning. 

Officials said William Paul Faist Volunteer Ambulance Corps 1st Lt. Moshe Herzog, 27, was driving his vehicle with EMT David Schneebalg, 26, as a passenger when the vehicle collided with a tractor-trailer while attempting to change lanes, according to CBS New York.

Both vehicles went into a ditch and caught fire after the crash. Herzog and Schneebalg were pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. 

Herzog and Schneebalg were both members of William Paul Faist Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Haverstraw Ambulance Corps. They had been celebrating Rosh Hashanah together in another state and were returning home at the time of the crash. 

"They were dedicated members of the EMS community and served with honor and dignity," the William Paul Faist Volunteer Ambulance Corps wrote in a statement. 

Haverstraw Ambulance Corps officials wrote, "they both served EMS with pride!"

Herzog was also a member of the volunteer rescue squad Chaverim of Rockland, according to The Journal News. A coordinator for the squad said Herzog had called for help on his radio after the crash, saying he was trapped.

The driver of the tractor-trailer, Luis Velazquez, 59, also became trapped and was extricated. He was transported to the hospital with unspecified injuries.