PENFIELD, NY — Two women were seriously hurt Tuesday afternoon when an SUV hit them as they crossed Bay Road near Terrel Drive, according to Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies. One of the women had life-threatening injuries, while the other was listed in stable condition.
Deputies said the crash happened around 3 p.m. as the women were crossing the road heading east. The SUV was traveling north when it struck them. The sheriff’s office said the driver was detained at the scene, but no arrest had been announced by Wednesday evening.
Deputies say the driver was detained as investigators examined the scene
Sergeant Brendan Hurley said deputies arrived and found that a northbound motorist had struck the two pedestrians. He said the Major Crimes unit was called in and investigators were working to sort out what happened.
A News10NBC photojournalist saw deputies appear to administer a field sobriety test. Hurley said the driver had been detained for the investigation while officers tried to rule out possible factors and get a full accounting of the crash.
Bay Road reopened later in the evening after the collision investigation
The sheriff’s office said Bay Road reopened at 7:41 p.m., several hours after the crash shut down the area near Terrel Drive. The scene drew a heavy response as deputies and investigators worked around the roadway.
Officials did not immediately say whether any citations or charges would follow. The investigation was still focused on determining whether the crash should be treated as a criminal matter.
Nearby business owner says crashes are common on the road
A business owner along Bay Road said she often hears tires screeching and vehicles crashing near her shop, but she did not hear any screeching before Tuesday’s incident. Another neighbor said crashes in that area are uncommon, even though traffic can pick up around shopping hours.
“It’s not crazy busy, but it can be busy at this time of day, especially with everyone coming out shopping,” the neighbor said. One resident told News10NBC off camera that crashes happen on Bay Road often, though she had never seen a pedestrian struck there before.
Neighbors react to the seriousness of a pedestrian strike
People living and working nearby said the crash left them shaken because it involved pedestrians rather than a typical property-damage wreck. One neighbor said, “Heart goes out to them whenever you have a pedestrian struck.”
The comments reflected concern about a road some residents view as busy enough to make close calls feel routine. Even so, the sight of two women being hit by an SUV stood out as an uncommon and serious event for the area.
Names of the women and the driver’s later charges were not released in the initial update
Deputies had not released the names of the two women on Tuesday evening. The sheriff’s office also had not said at that point whether the detained driver would be arrested or what charges, if any, might apply.
The initial update later changed on Thursday, Sept. 24, when deputies released the driver’s name and charges. In the first version of the case, however, investigators were still gathering evidence and withholding personal details while the medical condition of the women remained the main concern.
