PO John Machuca, Town of Cornwall PD, 2/10/1989

Early in the morning of February 10, 1989, Town of Cornwall Police Officer John Machuca, 45, was responding to assist fellow officers engaged in a vehicle pursuit in the Town of Woodbury.  En route to the location, Officer Machuca’s radio car was struck by a vehicle driven by Willie Aaron Thompson, of Newburgh.  Thompson, who was drunk at the time, had five previous arrest for drunk driving. He was driving above 80 miles per hour in a 40 mph zone, and did not even attempt to brake. 

Police Officer Machuca was transported from the accident scene to St. Luke’s Hospital in Newburgh where he succumbed to his injuries less than 2 hours after the accident. Officer Machuca left behind a wife, Aurora.

Thompson was later convicted of Vehicular manslaughter.