A 9-month-old baby was among those involved in a deadly head-on collision Monday afternoon in Altona, New York, after the driver of the vehicle carrying him crashed into an oncoming SUV while attempting to pass another car. The driver, 40-year-old William Conway, did not survive.
The crash happened around 3:15 p.m. on Military Turnpike, according to New York State Police. Conway, who lived in Ellenburg Depot, was driving a red Nissan Altima northbound with the infant inside when the collision occurred.
Police said Conway moved into the southbound lane to pass another vehicle. As he attempted the maneuver, his Nissan struck a tan Chevrolet Equinox coming from the opposite direction. The two vehicles collided head-on, leaving several people injured.
Conway became trapped inside his badly damaged vehicle. Emergency responders worked to extricate him before attempting life-saving measures. Their efforts were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead at the scene by the Clinton County Coroner.
The infant passenger was rushed to Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh for evaluation. Although the baby suffered injuries, authorities described them as non-life-threatening. His survival was among the few pieces of better news following the devastating collision.
Two women inside the Equinox were also hurt. The driver, 70-year-old Denise Patnode, and her 66-year-old passenger, Donna Dumas, were both residents of Chateaugay. They were transported to the hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Several local emergency departments responded to the crash, including firefighters and rescue personnel from Ellenburg, Altona, Clinton and Morrisonville. Crews assisted at the scene as emergency workers dealt with the damaged vehicles and injured occupants.
State police are still investigating the collision. Their initial findings indicate that Conway entered the opposing lane while trying to pass another vehicle before striking the oncoming Equinox.
The crash left one family mourning the loss of a loved one and three other people recovering from their injuries. For the infant who was traveling with Conway, Monday’s journey ended in a hospital instead of at their intended destination.
Leave a Reply