Missing Manhattan Man Found Alive Upstate

A Lower East Side Man who was last seen on Sunday leaving a party in Dutchess County has been found alive -- the victim of a car accident.

Family and friends had suspected foul play when Thomas Wopat-Moreau, 22, never returned home after leaving a house party in Stormville, NY early Sunday morning.

But authorities now say that Moreau, who is originally from Copake, NY, drove north on the Taconic State Parkway and crashed his car about one mile south of Lake Taghkanic State Park in the Town of Ancram. It's believed that he was on his way to his mother's home in Copake.

Moreau was found just outside of his BMW station wagon in a secluded section of the woods on the east side of the Taconic State Parkway, according to police.

Captain Scott Brown of the New York State Police told NBCNewYork that Moreau was driving north early Sunday morning when the road veered suddenly to the left. Apparently Moreau kept going straight and didn't realize he had driven off road until about 400 feet later when his car hit something, went airborne, flipped and crashed, said Brown.

Sustaining injuries to his back and legs, Moreau crawled around in the woods and swamp for four days before being found, police said.

State Troopers searching for Moreau had spotted his car at around 2:10 p.m. Thursday, then heard the young man yelling, "Over here, over here!" said Brown.

When cops reached him his first words were "I'm so glad to see you guys," according to Brown.

Troopers said they were able to focus their search by a signal from Moreau's cell phone before it died. Lt. James Murphy said Moreau was conscious and begging for water when they found him.

Moreau was taken to Albany Medical Center where he was said to have serious injuries.

On Facebook, where a page had been set up to help find out what happened to Wopat, friends expressed deep relief.

"So glad you're safe, wopat!! hope you're doing alright and recover soon!" wrote one friend.
 

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