Friends and colleagues are remembering Ann Comella, a well-liked and respected member of the Albany County Legislature, who died Thursday, Feb. 1, from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident on Alternate Route 7 Monday, Jan. 29.
Comella was pronounced dead at 9:40 a.m. at Albany Medical Center Hospital.
The wife and mother of two daughters, ages 24 and 21, was a prominent member of the community and the 25th Legislative District she had represented since her 2004 election.
We are going to miss her. When she walked into a room, she had a presence and was always smiling, even on a tough day, said Christine Benedict, Republican minority leader in the county Legislature.
Benedict said she worked hand-in-hand with Comella, a first-term Republican legislator, in her most passionate of goals, which included the county’s nursing home issues and holding the district attorney more accountable when it came to domestic violence issues.
Comella’s death came as a shock to Benedict and fellow politicians. She was tough, and many were sure she would survive her injuries, Benedict said.
As of Monday, Feb. 5, state police were still looking into why Comella, 54, drove 1.4 miles on the wrong side of the road.
State police responded to the accident at 11 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 29. Comella’s vehicle had overturned after sideswiping the vehicle of Kelly Fox, 20, of Altamont. According to police, Comella entered Alternate Route 7 at the Route 9 entrance near Columbia Street Extension. She traveled approximately 1.4 miles before colliding with Fox.
Police believe Comella was attempting to enter Interstate 87 southbound to return home from Albany when she entered Alternate Route 7 exit ramp, heading east in the westbound lane.
Police described Fox’s injuries as minor. Both Fox and Comella were treated by Colonie EMS and transported to Albany Medical Center Hospital.
Comella had been listed in critical condition at the hospital as she underwent treatment to what first responders said was a serious head injury.
Police have confirmed that two state troopers who responded to the accident said they noticed and odor of alcohol at the scene. Police are continuing to talk with people that may have been with Comella the night of the accident in order to put together a timeline that ultimately ends with her heading the wrong way on Alternate Route 7.
`Until we are finished (with the investigation), we don’t want to give out dribs and drabs. We have two more people to talk to,` said Trooper Maureen Tuffey, spokeswoman for State Police Troop G in Loudonville.
So far police have interviewed nearly a dozen people in efforts to track the events leading up to the accident.
Comella was the manager of the Loudonville branch of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties. Before her election to the Legislature, Comella was involved in several local charity organizations. She was past president of the Loudonville Elementary School PTA.
Comella was to run for a second Legislature term in the upcoming elections.
`We certainly supported one another, and I was looking forward to working with her this year,` said Colonie Supervisor Mary Brizzell.
Brizzell engaged Comella on a number of issues facing the town as well as those faced by the Republican minority in the county Legislature, she said.
Comella was one of eight Republican legislators in the 39-member county council as well as the sixth Legislature representing portions of Colonie.
`She was someone who hit the ground running and always made sure we (the minority) were together. I am going to miss her because she was the one that kept pushing me through the day,` said Benedict.“
