Police Find 'No Evidence' that Driver Who Struck Two Had Seizure

This article was written by Krista Madsen, Patch Editor.

Update, Friday, Nov. 22, 10:15 a.m.: Lt. William Herguth this morning offers more detail on the terrible accident that left two pedestrians injured on Wildey Street on Wednesday morning, but little reason as to how it happened and any update on their conditions. 

As of Thursday, Herguth said the woman more critically injured was still alive.

Despite much speculation circulating that the driver may have been ill and have had a seizure when she plowed through the Walgreens plaza fence, a small tree, and into two women, police have only said that there was a physical issue involved. It is unclear if this means something mechanical with the car or something going on with the driver. 

"It is under investigation," Herguth said. When asked if it may have been a seizure, he said, there's been "no evidence of this."

The driver has been identified as a 54-year-old woman from Tarrytown. 

The victims are a 45-year-old woman from Danbury and a 63-year-old woman from the Bronx. 

Both were taken to Westchester County Medical Center, with CPR having been performed on the woman from the Bronx in the roadway when officers first arrived at the scene. 

Police received multiple 911 calls around 9:19 a.m. for the accident and had the scene cleared by 11:30 a.m., Herguth said.

The driver was coming north toward Wildey Street, exiting through the one-way entrance to the plaza, when she first went through the fence and then hit the pedestrians. There was no other car involved, Herguth said. He said one woman was waiting for the bus and it is unclear if the other one was waiting for the bus as well. However, both were standing on the sidewalk when they were hit.

The driver was not treated for any injuries. The 2012 Honda Civic, for which her husband is the registered owner, sustained front end damages.

Herguth could not release any more information on the condition of the victims due to patient privacy law, he said.

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Original post, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 10:30 a.m.: Witnesses gathered around the area near the Wildey exit of the Walgreens plaza at the edge of Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow are saying a driver may have killed one pedestrian and left another critically injured.

"I just heard a noise and came down," said one witness. "I saw two under the car. Three to four ambulances." 

Sergeant Frank Giampiccolo has confirmed that a woman driver who "had physical issues," struck two pedestrians, leaving one with life-threatening injuries. He said "I'm not sure if she'll make or not" and that responders performed CPR on her and took her to Westchester County Medical Center. Another victim with less serious injuries was taken to WCMC as well. Police are not yet disclosing their age or identities.

A female resident said she was driving down Valley Street when she saw an EMT flipping a woman on a board and begin performing CPR on her. She said she saw a car facing the wrong way with a smashed front end and another in the middle of the street with its occupants on the phone and crying. 

"When I got up to the light is when I noticed the woman's body in the middle of the street and the few that were there standing helpless then someone pointed out the other body by the curb by entrance of parking lot," the witness said. "I didn't see the extent of their injuries but the woman didn't look too good. The driver I was told kept driving and the people in the other car chased them up Wildey and stopped her."

Giampiccolo is not describing it as a hit and run as witnesses are however. He said only one car was involved and they are interviewing the driver now at headquarters. They have not pressed any charges yet.

Authorities at 10:15 a.m. were taping off the area, from the exit from Walgreens and the intersection between the two bus stops on Wildey. There is a downed tree branch and wood debris from fencing it looks like the car drove through alongside the plaza exit. 

The female witness said the two people seemed to have been coming out of Walgreens plaza and crossing the street when they were hit. "The woman may not have made it," she said. "And honestly, I'm a little devastated. I don't know any of the parties but watching that scene unfurl before my eyes clicked such an emotion in me...and so close to Thanksgiving. I know what I'll be giving thanks for this evening."

Stay tuned as Patch gets more on this developing story.