Long Island pediatrician was on way to watch solar eclipse with her family when she fell out of passenger door of brand new $130k AirStream in front of horrified daughter while rest of the family rode car

A Long Island pediatrician was on her way to watch 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, it has been revealed. 

Monika Woroniecka, 58, had just stopped for ice cream at a gas station with her family enroute to their AirBnb in Cape Vincent before she fell to her death.

According to New York State Trooper Sgt. Jack Keller, Woroniecka and her daughter Helena decided to ride the last 20 minutes of their trip in the $130,000 Airstream camper.

While Woroniecka was trying 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 the Woroniecka Stony Brook, New York, home on Monday over the news of Woroniecka's passing. 

‘I can’t believe something like this would happen. They are just a lovely family, good neighbors. She's a nice person,' Antipas said. 

Monika Woroniecka (right) was on her way to view the eclipse when she was tossed from an Airstream while on a New York Road. Her husband, Richard, was driving a pickup that was pulling the Airstream, when Woroniecka fell out in front of her family 

Dr. Woroniecka was a children's allergy and immunology specialist at Stony Brook Medicine, which she practiced for more than 20 years

While Woroniecka was trying to secure the passenger side of the camper, she got thrown from the $130,000 Airstream

The family was on their way to view the eclipse and had just stopped for ice cream before the tragedy 

Her husband Robert Woroniecka, 59, was driving the couple’s 2019 gray Ram pick-up truck west around 3 pm Saturday on Route 12 E in Brownville when the tragedy happened. 

Witnesses behind the Airstream claimed they saw the passenger side door of the Airstream open, and Woroniecka's arm hanging on the door after the wind caused the door to swing ajar. 

The incident happened 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 horrifying incident. 

'I haven't dealt a lot with these type of incidents. We are still trying to determine how and why the door opened,' Keller said. 

On Monday, no one answered the door at the Woroniecka residence. Antipas, who lives next door to the family, was devastated having no idea it was neighbor and just learned about it when a media outlet told her of the tragedy.

Antipas said they would look after each other’s houses when they travel and said she had a key to their home.

‘They just left the other day,' she recalled. 'They got an Airstream a couple of months ago and they’ve been taking little trips. I watch their house for them when they are gone, and they do the same for me.’

She said the day they were leaving, her husband was walking the dog and saw Woroniecka and her husband Robert getting their truck and Airstream ready. They told them that they were going upstate to watch the solar eclipse and meet their daughter.

Richard, a kidney doctor at Stonybrook, and his wife had moved into the home on Dogwood Drive in Stonybrook six or seven years ago.

She said that the couple were outdoorsy and have three grown daughters who are all very bright. One lives in Virginia with her family, another is a musician who lives in New York, and the third daughter is studying medicine in Arizona and is set to get married this summer.

She told DailyMail.com she remembered the day Richard drove the airstream home. 

‘It was shiny, she recalled. 'They were so excited to get it.'

Maria said that the last time she saw Woroniecka was the day before she left. She was walking her dogs and they waved to each other. 

Utterly devastated, she repeated: ‘I can’t believe something like that happened. It’s so tragic.'

Witnesses behind the Airstream claimed they saw the passenger side door of the Airstream open, and Woroniecka's arm hanging on the door after the wind caused the door to swing ajar

New York State Police continue to investigate the incident that claimed Woroniecka's life

Dr. Woroniecka has three daughters including Alexandra (left) and Helena (right), who was with her on the trip

It is illegal to tow passengers in an Airstream in New York State, in addition to being something the company warns against.

An Airstream spokesperson told DailyMail.com the company was saddened to learn of Dr. Woroniecka's death.

'Our deepest sympathies go out to her family, friends and community.' 

They advised their safety guidelines state Airstream travel trailers are not designed to carry passengers while in motion. 

'The safety protocol detailed in Airstream’s operating manuals and shared on Airstream’s website advises owners that they cannot tow an Airstream with people inside,' the representative said. 

'Many states prohibit carrying passengers in a travel trailer or fifth wheel, and we advise owners to consult their state’s Department of Motor Vehicles for up-to-date regulations.'

The scene on State Route 12E near Watertown, New York, on Saturday afternoon

The family appear to have been riding in a New 2024 Airstream Bambi 16RB

The thoughtfully-designed relatively small camper is sixteen feet in length and sleeps four

The cost of the brand new model begins at $60,400

In New York State, it is illegal to ride in a non-fifth wheel trailer while it's in motion. The manufacturers of Airstream also warn against riding in the campervan while it is in motion

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.