According to Sheriff Jeffrey J. Murphy, on Thursday, February 19th 2015, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to a car pedestrian fatal motor vehicle accident on SR 29 in front of the Middle Falls Fire Department.

The deceased victim, Shirley Coon and her friend were crossing the roadway going to bingo at the fire department. They were coming from a parking lot on the north side of SR 29.

At this stage of the investigation, it appears the victim was in the middle of the roadway and her friend had made it to the area of the fog line closest to the fire department. Evidence and witness accounts are consistent with a vehicle travelling eastbound towards the Village of Greenwich striking both women.

The friend was struck in the arm by what is believed to have been this vehicle’s passenger’s side mirror and sustained a minor injury to her arm. Ms. Coon was struck by what is believed to be the vehicle’s driver’s side headlight assembly. This collision threw the victim into the westbound lane where she was struck by another vehicle that was travelling westbound heading towards the village of Schuylerville.

This second vehicle stopped at the scene and the driver was interviewed. The first vehicle is believed to have stopped at the scene initially but then left the scene before they could be interviewed.

Debris from the first vehicle was left at the scene and we are trying to identify this vehicle by that debris and surveillance video in and around the area of the crash. This vehicle is believed to have sustained minor damage to the driver’s side headlight assembly and passenger’s side mirror. At this time we have no further description.

Early in the investigation it appears the collision with the two pedestrians was unavoidable but this first driver’s identity is unknown and we are asking them to come forward to give their account of the accident.

If there are any witnesses to the accident that saw anything or can identify this first vehicle, we are asking for their assistance and to contact Investigations at 518-746-2494 or 518-746-2475.