Airstream says it was ‘saddened’ to hear about the death of a Long Island pediatrician who fell out of an RV while driving on a New York highway, but stressed she should not have been in the back to start.
Monika Woroniecka, 58, died on Saturday after falling out of an Airstream that was being pulled by her husband who was driving a truck. She was flung out of the RV in front of her horrified family on their way to view the eclipse.
New York State Police continue to investigate the incident.
‘Airstream is saddened to hear about the death of Dr. Monika Woroniecka on April 6, 2024, and our deepest sympathies go out to her family, friends and community,’ the company said in a statement to DailyMail.com
‘Airstream travel trailers are not designed to carry passengers while in motion. The safety protocol detailed in Airstream’s operating manuals and shared on Airstream’s website advises owners that they cannot tow an Airstream with people inside. Many states prohibit carrying passengers in a travel trailer or fifth wheel, and we advise owners to consult their state’s Department of Motor Vehicles for up-to-date regulations.’
Monika Woroniecka, 58, died on Saturday after falling out of an Airstream that was being pulled by her husband driving a truck. Airstream officials said they were saddened to learn of her death, but stressed people should not be in a moving RV
She was in the silver 2024 Airstream as the family traveled along State Route 12E and the door suddenly flew open in a gust of wind
The scene on State Route 12E near Brownville, New York, on Saturday afternoon
It is illegal to tow passengers in an Airstream in New York State, in addition to being something the company warns against.
According to New York State Trooper Sgt. Jack Keller, Woroniecka and her daughter, Helena, decided to ride the last 20 minutes of their trip in the $130,000 Airstream camper.
They had just stopped for ice cream as they headed upstate from their Long Island home. Woroniecka’s husband, Richard, was driving a truck and pulling the Airstream along Route 12 E in Brownville.
Witnesses behind the Airstream claimed they saw the passenger side door of the Airstream open, and Woroniecka’s arm hanging on the door after the wind caused the door to swing ajar.
Police continue to investigate the horrifying incident.
‘I haven’t dealt a lot with these types of incidents. We are still trying to determine how and why the door opened,’ Keller said.
On Monday, no one answered the door at the Woroniecka residence. Antipas, who lives next door to the family, was devastated having no idea it was neighbor and just learned about it when a media outlet told her of the tragedy.
Neighbor Maria Antipas said they would look after each other’s houses when they travel and said she had a key to their home.
‘They just left the other day,’ she recalled. ‘They got an Airstream a couple of months ago and they’ve been taking little trips. I watch their house for them when they are gone, and they do the same for me.’
Her husband Robert, 59, (left) was driving the pickup truck pulling the caravan that Woroniecka (right) was riding in. They are pictured with one of their daughters who may have been with them on the trip
Dr Woroniecka (far left) poses with her family
Dr. Woroniecka has three daughters including Alexandra (left) and Helena (right), who was with her on the trip
She said the day they were leaving, her husband was walking the dog and saw Woroniecka and her husband Robert getting their truck and Airstream ready. They told them that they were going upstate to watch the solar eclipse and meet their daughter.
Richard, a kidney doctor at Stony Brook, and his wife had moved into the home on Dogwood Drive in Stonybrook six or seven years ago.
She said that the couple were outdoorsy and have three grown daughters who are all very bright. One lives in Virginia with her family, another is a musician who lives in New York, and the third daughter is studying medicine in Arizona and is set to get married this summer.
She told DailyMail.com she remembered the day Richard drove the airstream home.
‘It was shiny, she recalled. ‘They were so excited to get it.’
Maria said that the last time she saw Woroniecka was the day before she left. She was walking her dogs and they waved to each other.
Utterly devastated, she repeated: ‘I can’t believe something like that happened. It’s so tragic.’
The hospital where the coupe worked released a statement after Woroniecka’s death.
‘Stony Brook Medicine is deeply saddened to learn of the tragic loss of one of our esteemed colleagues over the weekend, Dr. Monika Woroniecka, a physician at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital,’ the hospital said in a statement. ‘Our thoughts are with her family, friends and colleagues affected by this heartbreaking event.’
‘The safety protocol detailed in Airstream’s operating manuals and shared on Airstream’s website advises owners that they cannot tow an Airstream with people inside,’ Airstream, headed by CEO Bob Wheeler, said in a statement
The family appear to have been riding in a New 2024 Airstream Bambi 16RB
The thoughtfully-designed relatively small camper is sixteen feet in length and sleeps four
The cost of the brand new model begins at $60,400
In New York State, it is illegal to ride in a non-fifth wheel trailer while it’s in motion. The manufacturers of Airstream also warn against riding in the campervan while it is in motion
Dr. Woroniecka was a children’s allergy and immunology specialist at Stony Brook Medicine, which she practiced for more than 20 years.
She treated children with food, environmental, medications, and bee stings allergies, childhood asthma and skin conditions like eczema and hives.
‘Dr. Woroniecka likes to travel, hike, exercise, and spend time with family and friends,’ her work profile read.
She grew up in Poland and drew in Polish-speaking patients from around the region, it added.