Long Island pediatrician, 58, dies falling from moving Airstream caravan on to highway in
- Monika Woroniecka, 58, killed on family holiday in freak highway accident
- Her husband Robert was driving pickup pulling caravan when door flung open
- She desperately tried to pull herself back in but fell and hit her head on the road
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.
About 3pm on Saturday they passed Watertown, New York, with her husband Robert, 59, driving the gray 2019 Ram pickup truck pulling the caravan.
Suddenly, the Airstream’s passenger-side door was blown open by a gust of wind and Dr Woroniecka was thrown out – holding the door handle for dear life.
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.
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.
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.