Andrea VanValkenburg
The Press-Republican, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
HOGANSBURG, NY — A local woman was killed Tuesday evening when a volunteer firefighter’s vehicle slammed into hers while he was responding to an emergency.
St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police said Florence David was pulling out of a Cook Road driveway when she was hit by an oncoming Hogansburg-Akwesasne volunteer.
Chief Andrew Thomas said veteran firefighter John Lazore was responding to a rescue call on St. Regis River when the accident happened.
The 74-year-old Hogansburg woman was killed in the 7 p.m. crash.
Lazore, whose age was not available, and an unidentified woman in David’s vehicle were treated for minor injuries after the accident.
Tribal Police were continuing to investigate the fatality Thursday afternoon and did not release any additional information.
Thomas said no charges had been filed as of Thursday.
The river-rescue call, which was reported only minutes before the T-bone accident happened, turned out to be a false alarm, Fire Chief Norm Peters said Thursday.
“It was a report of a vehicle going through the ice, but it was unfounded.”
That was the conclusion after an extensive two-day search for the fallen truck.
Volunteers heard about the crash as they began searching for the sunken vehicle. Some left the river to render aid at the nearby accident.
Peters said the tragedy has been difficult for local volunteers and the community, since many people knew everyone involved.
David was a longtime local resident and has a large extended family in the area.
Lazore is a well-known past chief of the Fire Department.
Peters spoke with Lazore after he left the hospital and said they both felt terrible about the tragedy.
“It’s a rough time for sure,” Peters said. “It’s been hard on everybody.”
Copyright 2009, The Press-Republican (Plattsburgh, New York)