Investigations are continuing into the accident that took the life of three elderly women this morning in front of St. Matthews Roman Catholic Church in Voorheesville.
Luann Burgess, 55, of Voorheesville was dropping off her 6-year-old son at Voorheesville Elementary School and began to head east on Mountainview Street towards home. According to Albany County Acting Sheriff Craig D. Apple, her flip-flop sandal fell off near the gas pedal.
We don’t know what happened next, said Apple. `We do know she veered off the roadway, went into the parking lot and struck a group of three women on the sidewalk. It appears all three died instantly.`
The three women standing outside the church were Carol Lansing, 66, of Green Island, Rosmarie Hume, 79, Waterford, Frances C. Pallozzi, 89, of Waterford. They are a part of the Empire State Volksporters, a group of nearly 50 hikers in the Capital District who Apple said would normally walk in that area on Wednesdays. They were waiting for a friend who had stopped into the church to go to the bathroom when they got hit.
`Literally as she walked into the bathroom the vehicle struck her three friends and went into the church,` Apple said. `She was able to get into the church, but she’s really in a lot of shock.`
Burgess was taken to the Albany Medical Center Hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Apple said there still are a slew a questions that need to be answered regarding the incident. An investigation is continuing and the sheriff’s department is checking with Albany County District Attorney David Soare’s office to see how it should proceed.
`Let’s put it this way, the roadway had a bend to the left and she continued straight,` Apple said. `There’s some driver inattention involved here.`
Check back for updates as we will have more information as the story progresses.
Photo by Charles Wiff/Spotlight
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