Just after 11 p.m. on Saturday, February 8, 2020, a car hit four teenagers who were in the crosswalk on 787 (Cohoes Blvd.) in Green Island. Brandon Sylvester, 17, was killed and three other teens were hit, with one still in critical condition at Albany Medical Center as of the following Monday afternoon.
Albany County Undersheriff William Rice said six teenagers had left a gas station in Cohoes and were walking south, back to Green Island, around 11 p.m. when they attempted to run across 787 at Tibbits Avenue before a car entered the intersection, according to statements from witnesses at the scene.
A car traveling south on 787 hit four of the teenagers, which led to the death of a 17-year-old male and critically injured another 17-year-old male. A 15-year-old female suffered a fractured leg, and a 16-year-old male sustained a neck injury.
“We’ve all done silly things at that age. But unfortunately they were in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Rice said.
According to Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple, the driver had a suspended license and was not the owner of the car. He did, however, remain at the scene until the sheriffs arrived.
All the victims attend Green Island Union Free School District’s Heatly School.
The sheriff’s office is awaiting more information like blood samples to determine what led up to the crash, however, alcohol is not believed to be a factor.
There have been three other pedestrian fatalities on State Route 787 over the last 16 years. Most recently, 16-year-old Brittany Knight died while crossing the four-lane highway at Bridge Avenue the night of June 16, 2016.
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