A doctor was killed when she fell out of a moving caravan while desperately clinging to the door during a family camping trip.
Monika Woroniecka, 58, a pediatrician from Long Island, was in the silver 2024 Airstream as the family traveled along State Route 12E at 3pm on Saturday.
Her husband, Robert, 59, was driving the gray 2019 Ram pickup truck pulling the caravan as it passed Watertown, New York.
Suddenly, the Airstream’s passenger-side door blew open, throwing Dr Woroniecka from the campervan.
She was left holding the door handle for dear life as family members who were in the trailer with her watched in horror.
It is illegal to tow passengers in an Airstream in New York State, in addition to being something the company warns against.
Monika Woroniecka, 58, was killed when she fell out of a moving caravan while desperately clinging to the door during a family camping trip
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
Dr Woroniecka was a children’s allergy and immunology specialist at Stony Brook Medicine, which she practiced for more than 20 years
Motorists driving behind the caravan said she lost her grip and fell, hitting her head on the highway’s shoulder and suffering fatal injuries.
‘Cape Vincent Ambulance transported Monika to Samaritan Medical Center’s Emergency Room where she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased,’ New York State Police said.
The family was just 20 minutes from reaching their destination from their home in Stony Brook, on Long Island, when Dr Woroniecka was killed.
New York State police are investigating the fatal accident. In the Empire State it is illegal to ride in a trailer that isn’t a fifth wheel – Airstreams are not fifth wheels.
The manufactures of Airstream also warn against riding in the campervan while it is in motion.
‘You cannot tow an Airstream with people inside,’ reads the company’s website. ‘Your travel trailer is not designed to carry passengers when in motion. All passengers should travel in your tow vehicle or a secondary vehicle until you are at your destination.’
A 2022 post to the Airstream website also notes that the trailer ‘does not have seat belts, there, it is not designed to carry passengers.’
Dr Woroniecka has at least two daughters, Helena and Alexandra, who may have been with her and Robert on the trip.
Helena followed her mother into science and studied biochemistry at Stony Brook University and is now working on a PhD at the University of Arizona, while Alexandra studies at Julliard in New York City.
Dr Woroniecka (far left) poses with her family
The family with an inclination toward nature-forward trips saw their most recent one end in tragedy
Her husband Robert, 59, (left) was driving the pickup truck pulling the caravan that Dr Woroniecka (right) was riding in. They are pictured with one of their daughters who may have been with them on the trip
Dr Woroniecka has at least two daughters, Helena (right) and Alexandra (left), who may have been with her and Robert on the trip
The scene on State Route 12E near Watertown, New York, on Saturday afternoon
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.
State troopers are investigating the accident.