Schroon, New York - November 20, 2011
A trip to visit a family member in Ausable Forks ended tragically Sunday Morning. 59 year old Thomas Lafountain and his 65 year old sister, Mary Morrissey, both from Mechanicsville, were traveling north on the Adirondack Northway in the town of Schroon.
"Mr. Lafountain stated as he was driving up the road, he was struck in the rear. Mr. Lafountain's car then went off to the east side and struck the guardrail, then crossed over to the median on the left side and went down a ditch and struck an embankment," said Lt. Scott Heggelke of the New York State Police.
Lafountain received minor injuries. But his sister was pronounced dead at the scene. The condition of the person driving the other vehicle is unknown.
"The other car fled the scene," said Heggelke
Lafountain was able to provide police with critical information that investigators hope will help them identify the driver of the car that fled the scene.
"We are looking for a passenger car, light colored, possibly a Toyota, and the partial plate is DWD," said Heggelke.
However, police are not sure if the car had New York license plates. The highway was closed for nearly four hours between Exits 27 and 28 as investigators searched the area for clues. Police say the car that reportedly fled the scene should be easy to identify.
"We would expect to see significant front end damage," said Heggelke
Anyone that was traveling along the Northway in the Schroon area around 7:30 Sunday morning is urged to call the New York State Police.
