It was revealed that a Long Island pediatrician was on her way to see the solar eclipse with her family when she fell out of the passenger door of the family’s new Airstream in front of her horrified daughter.
Monika Woroniecka, 58, had just stopped for ice cream at a gas station with her family on the way to their Airbnb in Cape Vincent before she fell to her death.
According to New York State Police Sgt. Jack Keller, Woroniecka and her daughter Helena decided to travel the last 20 minutes of their trip in the $130,000 Airstream camper.
As Woroniecka attempted to secure the passenger side of the camper, she was thrown from the Airstream and died in front of her horrified family.
Neighbor Maria Antipas was left distraught outside her home in Woroniecka Stony Brook, New York, on Monday at the news of Woroniecka’s death.
‘I can’t believe something like this could happen. They are just a lovely family, good neighbors. “He’s a good person,” Antipas said.
Monika Woroniecka (right) was on her way to see the eclipse when she was thrown from an Airstream while driving on a New York highway. Her husband, Richard, was driving a van pulling the Airstream when Monika fell in front of her family.
Dr. Woroniecka was a pediatric allergy and immunology specialist at Stony Brook Medicine, where she practiced for more than 20 years.
As Woroniecka attempted to secure the passenger side of the camper, she was thrown from the $130,000 Airstream.
The family was on their way to see the eclipse and had just stopped for ice cream before the tragedy.
Her husband, Robert Woroniecka, 59, was driving the couple’s gray 2019 Ram pickup truck west around 3 p.m. Saturday on Route 12 E in Brownville when the tragedy occurred.
Witnesses behind the Airstream stated that they saw the passenger side door of the Airstream open and Monika’s arm hanging from the door after the wind caused the door to swing open.
The incident occurred in front of her daughter and her boyfriend, police said.
When emergency personnel arrived, she was transported to Samaritan Medical Center where she died.
Police continue to investigate the horrific incident.
‘I haven’t dealt with these types of incidents much. “We are still trying to determine how and why the door was opened,” Keller said.
On Monday, no one answered the door to the Woroniecka residence. Antipas, who lives next door to her family, was devastated to have no idea that she was her neighbor and she only found out about her when a media outlet told her about the tragedy.
Antipas said that they would look after each other’s houses when they traveled and said that she had the key to his house.
“They left the other day,” he recalled. ‘They got an Airstream a couple of months ago and have been taking little trips. I look after their house for them when they are away and they do the same for me.’
She said that on the day they were leaving, her husband was walking the dog and saw Monika and her husband Robert preparing their truck and Airstream. They told them they were going upstate to see the solar eclipse and meet her daughter.
Richard, a kidney doctor in Stonybrook, and Monika had moved into the house on Dogwood Drive in Stonybrook six or seven years ago.
He said the couple were outdoorsy and have three grown daughters who are all very intelligent. One lives in Virginia with her family, another is a musician and lives in New York, and the third daughter is studying medicine in Arizona and will get married this summer.
She told DailyMail.com that she remembered the day Richard drove the Airstream home.
“He was brilliant,” he recalled. “They were very excited to get it.”
Maria said the last time she saw Monika was the day before she left. She was walking her dogs and they said hello.
Totally devastated, she repeated: ‘I can’t believe something like this happened. “It’s so tragic.”
Witnesses behind the Airstream stated they saw the passenger side door of the Airstream open and Woroniecka’s arm hanging from the door after the wind caused the door to swing open.
New York State Police continue to investigate incident that claimed Woroniecka’s life
Dr. Woroniecka has three daughters, including Alexandra (left) and Helena (right), who accompanied her on the trip.
It is illegal to tow passengers in an Airstream in New York state, as well as something the company warns against.
An Airstream spokesperson told DailyMail.com that the company was saddened to learn of Dr Woroniecka’s death.
“Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends and community.”
They recommended that their safety guidelines state that Airstream travel trailers are not designed to carry moving passengers.
“Safety protocol detailed in Airstream operating manuals and shared on the Airstream website warns owners that they cannot tow an Airstream with people inside,” the representative said.
“Many states prohibit transporting passengers in a travel trailer or fifth wheel, and we recommend owners check with their state Department of Motor Vehicles for updated regulations.”
The scene on State Route 12E near Watertown, New York, on Saturday afternoon.
The family appears to have traveled in a new 2024 Airstream Bambi 16RB.
The relatively small, carefully designed camper is six feet long and sleeps four people.
The cost of the new model starts at $60,400
In New York State, it is illegal to ride in a trailer other than a fifth wheel while it is moving. Airstream manufacturers also warn against riding in the camper van while it’s on the move
Dr. Woroniecka was a pediatric allergy and immunology specialist at Stony Brook Medicine, where she practiced for more than 20 years.
She treated children with food, environmental, medication and bee sting allergies, childhood asthma and skin conditions such as eczema and hives.
‘Dr. Woroniecka enjoys traveling, hiking, exercising, and spending time with family and friends,” his work profile said.
He grew up in Poland and attracted Polish-speaking patients from across the region, he added.