Times Union
COEYMANS, N.Y. — Robert Prior wrapped his pickup truck around a tree in 2008 and lived to talk about it.
In fact, he talked about it quite a lot. The born-and-raised Coeymans man and former Coeymans Fire Department chief lost the use of his legs in that crash, and began traveling around to local schools and communities, talking to students about his experience and the dangers of driving while impaired.
On Friday night, around 9:39 p.m., he was driving southbound on the Thruway when a wrong-way driver collided with his hand-controlled and wheelchair-equipped minivan, killing them both. Two other vehicles — a Chevrolet Cobalt and Dodge Dakota pickup — struck the minivan between exits 23 and 24. One driver — Antoine J.P. Marcais, 64, of Johnstown — injured his hand. The other — John E. Shatraw III, 27, of Schenectady — was uninjured.
State Police said Saturday they’re still investigating just what caused 71-year-old George E. Bradwell Jr., of Troy, to head north in the southbound lanes of I-87 that night. All southbound lanes were closed immediately for an investigation and were later reopened.
Bradwell was pronounced dead at the scene. Prior, 37, was rushed to Albany Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
“This town is just upside down right now,” said William Bruno, a friend of Prior’s and fellow commissioner on the fire department. “The calls I’m getting today from people who knew him, people from all over, is just incredible. He was just a well-liked person. If you were to meet him, you wouldn’t forget him. He always had a nice thing to say. He just made you feel good.”
Prior joined the fire department as a teen, and wound up serving in various capacities for 20 years. In 2004, he became fire chief. In recent years, he served as one of five fire commissioners at the department. Following his 2008 crash, he did work with Albany County STOP-DWI, Bruno said. Even though he could no longer serve the community he way he once did, he remained just as involved as ever, Bruno said.
“He didn’t use a hose anymore, but he was always around,” he said. “He was a strong, muscular kid. He managed and persevered. His parents pushed him to be where he is. He was driving. He was going to school. He was still involved in the community. And that’s a testament to his parents. He had a strong, close family, sisters and brothers. I consider him my brother.”
Prior helped design and build a new fire station, Bruno said, and was studying architecture at Hudson Valley Community College at the time of his death.
Funeral information was not available Saturday.
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