Rockland community mourns loss of 1-year-old killed in crash 

Jacinta Roger was killed in a collision in Valley Cottage on Tuesday, according to St. Mary’s Knanaya Catholic Church in Haverstraw.

Blaise Gomez

Dec 21, 2023, 12:41 PM

Updated 358 days ago

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A one-year-old girl who died in a horrific car accident this week has been identified by a Rockland County church, as the community mourns the child’s tragic loss.
Jacinta Roger was killed in a collision in Valley Cottage on Tuesday, according to St. Mary’s Knanaya Catholic Church in Haverstraw.
The parish started a GoFundMe for the child’s parents, Roger and Chinnu Kunnakattumalayil, which has raised more than $45,000 as of Thursday morning.
“The joy Jacinta brought to our lives cannot be described in words but is undoubtedly felt in all of our hearts,” the GoFundMe reads. “Brave Jacinta, at only 1 years old, grew her little angel wings and was taken into the heavenly kingdom - shattering everyone’s hearts and crushing Roger and Chinnu’s world in a blink of an eye.”The child’s mother and 3-year-old brother were also injured in the crash, according to the church. Jacinta’s brother suffered minor injuries, and her mother underwent major surgery for a fractured leg.
Clarkstown police say the crash happened in the area of Route 303 and Hillside Ln (). The family’s Nissan Pathfinder had three people inside, an adult and two children, and was involved in a collision with a Ford box truck. The driver in that vehicle was the sole occupant and was taken to Westchester Medical Center.
“Let's stand with the Kunnakattumalayil family during their darkest hour. Let's shower them with the love and support they need to rebuild their lives, one step at a time,” reads the GoFundMe.