A passing attempt on a two-way road ended in a fatal head-on collision Monday afternoon, killing 40-year-old William “Bill” Conway and leaving a 9-month-old boy and two women injured. The crash happened on Military Turnpike in the Town of Altona, Clinton County, New York, after Conway’s Nissan entered the lane carrying oncoming traffic.
New York State Police said the collision occurred at approximately 3:15 p.m. November 9. Conway, who lived in Ellenburg Depot, was driving a red 2012 Nissan Altima northbound with the infant passenger when he attempted to pass another vehicle.
During the maneuver, investigators determined that Conway entered the southbound lane. A Chevrolet Equinox was approaching from the opposite direction, leaving the two vehicles on a collision course. The Nissan struck the SUV head-on.
The Equinox was being driven by 70-year-old Denise A. Patnode of Chateaugay. Her passenger, 66-year-old Donna Dumas, was also from Chateaugay. Both women were hurt in the collision, but police said their injuries were not life-threatening.
The impact left Conway trapped inside his Nissan. Emergency crews had to remove him from the wreckage before beginning life-saving measures. Their efforts were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The infant riding in Conway’s vehicle survived the crash. Emergency responders transported the 9-month-old boy to University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) for further medical evaluation. Patnode and Dumas were taken to the same hospital for treatment.
The response involved several local fire and rescue departments, including crews from Ellenburg, Altona, Clinton and Morrisonville. Emergency personnel worked at the scene to assist the injured occupants and deal with the damaged vehicles.
By Tuesday, State Police had not announced any additional findings, and the investigation was still underway. Authorities also had not provided a specific street address or intersection where the crash occurred.
The investigation is expected to establish the full circumstances surrounding the collision, including the events leading up to the passing attempt. For now, police have confirmed that Conway died, while the three other occupants, including the infant, survived with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
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