A paramedic who was recently struck and killed by an alleged drunk driver in the City of Newburgh will be laid to rest tomorrow. Members of the EMS community will attend the defendant’s court appearance seeking to have him charged with the medic’s death.
Lisa Sillins, age 58, of Hudson, NY, died on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, from injuries sustained after being struck by a vehicle on Friday, December 16, 2022. Sillins had just wrapped up her shift working for Ambulnz on Robinson Avenue in the City of Newburgh at approximately 6:00pm.
As Sillins walked to her car in the employees’ parking lot, accused drunk driver Pablo Colector, age 45 of White Plains, struck the paramedic and seriously injured her. She remained hospitalized for several days before passing away just days before Christmas.
She is survived by her mother, Ingrid Sillins; siblings Gregory, Arnold, and Deborah Sillins; and an extended family.
Her wake will be held tomorrow – Thursday, December 29, 2022, from 10:00am to 6:00pm at the Traver & McCurry Funeral Home, located at 234 Jefferson Heights in the Town of Catskill.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, December 30, 2022, beginning at 9:30am, at the Grace Bible Fellowship Church, located at 6959 Route 9 in Rhinebeck. Internment will be at Flushing Cemetery in Queens, NY.
According to the Traver & McCurry Funeral Home, representatives from Sillins’ “local EMS family” will lead a vehicle procession to the graveside location.
Meanwhile, Colector was ticketed and set free under New York State’s bail reform laws. He is scheduled to appear in the City of Newburgh Court on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 9:00am.
According to the Emergency Medical Services Public Advisory Council, Colector has been charged with drunken driving and vehicular assault, both misdemeanors. At this time, he has not been charged with Sillins’ death.
EMSPAC has issued a “call to action” to show solidarity for Sillins. Emergency medical service personnel and members of the community will turn out at Colector’s first court appearance on Tuesday to “show a united front for the upgrade of charges against the defendant in support of our fallen sister paramedic.”
Sillins family is asking that donations in her honor be made to Mothers Against Drunk Driving at www.madd.org/new-york or 20 Broadhollow Road, Suite 3008, Melville, NY 11747.
