Wrong-Way Highway Collision Injures 8-Year-Old, 81-Year-Old Driver: NYSP

TOWN OF CRAWFORD, NY — Police tried to to avert a crash, but a wrong-way driver eventually ended up hitting another car before ending up in a ditch, according to authorities.

The New York State Police say that on March 10, around 3:45 p.m., troopers responded to a vehicle collision on State Route 17K, in the Town of Crawford.

An initial investigation found that a Town of Crawford police officer saw a 2011 Nissan driving on the wrong side of the highway. Witnesses also contacted 911 to report seeing the vehicle traveling on the wrong side of the roadway.

The officer then activated emergency lights and sirens, and followed the vehicle from a safe distance as it continued westbound on State Route 17K.

State police say that driver of the vehicle, 81-year-old Marilyn Duncan, of Middletown, left the roadway for unknown reasons and struck an unoccupied, parked 2012 Honda on the southbound shoulder, before ending up in a ditch.

The impact caused the Honda to be pushed into two additional parked vehicles, a 2023 Subaru and a 2013 Toyota.

Duncan and her eight-year-old passenger were taken to Garnet Health Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

An investigation found that Duncan experienced a medical event at the time of the collision.

State police say the investigation remains ongoing.