Samantha Lezin Killed in Route 6 Collision: New City Community Grieves Loss of 26-Year-Old Lab Technician in Tragic Woodbury Crash
WOODBURY, NY — The life of Samantha Lezin, a 26-year-old lab technician from New City, was tragically cut short on May 6 in a fatal head-on collision on Route 6 in Woodbury, Orange County. The crash, which occurred in the early afternoon as Samantha traveled to a routine medical appointment, has devastated her family, friends, and the broader Rockland County community.
Just moments before the accident, Samantha had spoken to her mother — as she often did — ending the call with a simple, heartfelt phrase: “I love you.” Less than an hour later, she was gone.
A Routine Day Turned Catastrophic
Samantha had just finished a full shift at the medical lab where she worked, a job she was deeply proud of. Known for her precision, reliability, and calm presence, she had built a strong reputation among colleagues and patients alike.
“She was always steady, always focused, and always kind,” said a coworker. “Even on the busiest days, she brought a quiet strength to the lab.”
After work, she set out for a scheduled doctor’s appointment. She called her mother during the drive — something she did often to check in. According to her mother, it was a brief but cheerful conversation, ending with the three words that now echo with heartbreaking finality: “I love you.”
What was supposed to be a normal drive along a familiar road turned fatal on a notoriously dangerous stretch of Route 6.
The Collision on Route 6
According to reports from the New York State Police, the crash occurred shortly after 2 p.m. in the town of Woodbury. Samantha was driving eastbound on Route 6 — a narrow, curving road that cuts through the hilly terrain of Orange County — when her vehicle collided head-on with another traveling in the opposite direction. The force of the impact was devastating.
Emergency responders arrived swiftly, but despite their efforts, Samantha was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not yet released further details about the driver or passengers of the other vehicle. The cause of the collision remains under investigation, with factors such as road conditions, speed, and visibility all being considered.
A Road Marked by Tragedy
For years, Route 6 has been the subject of community concern and frustration. Often described by locals as winding, poorly lit, and dangerously narrow in sections, it has seen a disproportionate number of serious and fatal accidents.
“This stretch of Route 6 is a death trap,” said one resident of nearby Central Valley. “You have blind curves, no shoulders, and very little room for error. It’s only a matter of time before the next tragedy.”
In the past five years, Route 6 has witnessed a string of serious accidents, several of them fatal. Despite calls from citizens and local officials for safety audits and roadway improvements, few structural changes have been made.
Samantha’s death has reignited these calls, with renewed urgency.
“This young woman’s life was lost not just to fate, but to a road we all knew was unsafe,” said a town official from Woodbury. “If we don’t act now, we’re complicit in the next tragedy.”
Remembering Samantha
The loss of Samantha Lezin has sent shockwaves through Rockland County and beyond. Friends, family, coworkers, and former classmates describe her as generous, intelligent, and deeply loved.
“Samantha wasn’t just kind — she was quietly heroic,” said Andreanna Whittaker, a childhood friend. “She didn’t need to be the loudest in the room. She led with compassion and strength.”
Samantha was a proud graduate of Clarkstown North High School, where she had excelled academically and volunteered as a tutor for younger students. After high school, she earned a degree in biology and joined a private diagnostic lab in Rockland County. She was known to stay after hours to ensure patient samples were handled correctly and was the first to offer help when a colleague needed support.
“She believed science should be about service,” a former biology professor said. “She wanted to help people heal — not just physically, but emotionally. She saw the human being behind every test tube.”
A Community in Grief
On the evening of May 9, a candlelight vigil was held in New City’s central park. More than 200 people gathered, holding candles and photos of Samantha, as her family and friends shared memories beneath a setting sun.
Her mother, fighting through tears, told the crowd: “She called me that afternoon, like she always did. She told me she loved me. And then she was gone. Please — if you have someone to love, tell them. Every day.”
The vigil featured a slide show of photos from every stage of Samantha’s life: playing the violin in her school orchestra, laughing with friends at a birthday party, standing proudly in her lab coat. Poems were read aloud by friends, and a local pastor led the crowd in a prayer of remembrance.
A Legacy Beyond Her Years
Though only 26, Samantha Lezin left behind a legacy that will endure.
In the wake of her passing, her family has established the Samantha Lezin Memorial Fund, aimed at providing scholarships for young women pursuing careers in healthcare and science. The fund reached $15,000 in donations within the first 72 hours of its launch.
“Every dollar is a step toward making her dream live on,” said her aunt. “She wanted to change lives through science. Now, she still can.”
Her coworkers at the lab where she worked have also committed to an annual day of service in her honor, where they will offer free health screenings to underserved members of the community — a cause Samantha had quietly supported for years.
A Sister, Daughter, and Friend
To her family, Samantha was more than her profession. She was a devoted daughter, a loyal sister, and a cherished friend.
“She made us all better,” said her younger brother. “She helped me study for every exam, even when she had her own deadlines. She gave so much of herself to everyone around her.”
Her friends describe her as the glue of their group — the one who remembered birthdays, offered a ride to anyone who needed one, and stayed up late to talk when someone was going through a hard time.
“She had this calming energy,” Whittaker recalled. “You could be in chaos, and one text from her could make everything feel manageable.”
Calls for Change
In addition to grief, Samantha’s death has sparked calls for tangible change. A grassroots campaign titled “Safer6” has emerged in the days following the accident, urging the New York State Department of Transportation to conduct an immediate safety review of Route 6 and consider structural changes, including:
- Road widening
- Guardrail installation
- Enhanced lighting
- Speed limit reductions
- More visible signage on curves
An online petition gathered more than 10,000 signatures in its first week.
“We can’t bring Samantha back,” said the campaign’s organizer. “But we can make sure no other family experiences this nightmare. We owe her that.”
A Final Goodbye
Funeral services for Samantha were held at a New City church, attended by hundreds. The church pews overflowed with friends, neighbors, classmates, and colleagues, many wearing lab coat pins or purple ribbons — Samantha’s favorite color.
As the service ended, a violinist played “Ave Maria” — a nod to Samantha’s years in orchestra. Outside, mourners released white balloons into a cloudless sky, each tagged with a written memory of Samantha. Some laughed through tears; others stood in solemn silence.
“She would’ve hated all this attention,” her friend joked. “But she would’ve loved that we’re here — together.”
In Loving Memory
Samantha Lezin was more than the victim of a tragic accident. She was a daughter who never forgot to say “I love you,” a scientist who believed in the healing power of knowledge, and a friend whose presence left people better than she found them.
Her death has left an unfillable void — but her spirit endures. In every candle lit in her memory, every scholarship awarded in her name, and every mile driven on a safer Route 6, Samantha’s legacy will live on.
She was here. She mattered. And she will never be forgotten.
