Worker recognized missing man from alert

A man with dementia was found Friday after a state Thruway worker in Ulster recognized him from a missing-person alert, officials said.

Luis Maldonado, 75, of Bloomingburg, near Middletown, failed to return home after visiting his wife Thursday night in the Orange County Regional Medical Center in Middletown, Trooper Kim Donohue said. He disappeared after telling family members he was headed home to get clothes for his wife.

Maldonado was found at a New York State Thruway rest stop in Ulster after a Thruway employee recognized Luis and his Dodge minivan from the alert and called police, officials said.

Maldonado was reported missing at 6:30 a.m. Friday.

The "missing adult alert" was posted on the electronic Inform system signs on state roads like the Long Island Expressway.