A tragic collision on Interstate 87 claimed the life of Anne F. Everton, 43, after a Ford Transit van slammed into a New York State Police SUV during a roadside traffic stop on Thursday afternoon. The devastating incident occurred around 3:35 p.m. on October 3, leaving the small community of Schroon Lake shaken.
According to state police, the crash happened as a trooper had stopped a white Mercedes 350 on the northbound shoulder of the highway, just outside the town limits. The officer’s patrol vehicle, a marked SUV, was parked on the roadside with its emergency lights flashing, in accordance with standard safety procedure.
As the trooper conducted the routine traffic stop, a Ford Transit van traveling northbound reportedly failed to move over or slow down in time. Authorities said the van, driven by Brian M. Danioski, 58, collided directly with the rear of the police SUV. The force of the impact propelled the patrol car forward, causing it to crash into the stopped Mercedes.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene within minutes. They found the vehicles badly damaged and debris scattered across several lanes of the interstate. Traffic was brought to a complete standstill as rescue teams worked swiftly to assist the victims and clear the area.
Inside the van, Everton was found unresponsive. Despite the best efforts of first responders, she was pronounced dead at the scene. She had been traveling as a passenger in the Ford Transit at the time of the collision. Her death marks a heartbreaking loss, and authorities expressed their deepest condolences to her family and loved ones.
The driver of the van, Danioski, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Glens Falls Hospital for treatment. The state trooper, who was inside or near the patrol vehicle during the crash, was also taken to the same hospital with minor injuries. Both men are expected to recover fully.
The occupants of the white Mercedes 350 were reportedly unharmed, though they were visibly shaken by the sudden impact. They cooperated with police investigators and were later released from the scene after giving their statements.
Investigators are now working to determine the cause of the collision. Preliminary reports suggest that distraction or failure to adhere to New York’s “Move Over Law” may have played a role. This law requires drivers to slow down and move over for emergency or law enforcement vehicles stopped along the roadway.
The northbound lanes of Interstate 87 were closed for several hours following the crash as police reconstructed the scene and cleared the wreckage. Traffic resumed later that evening, but the emotional impact of the tragedy continues to linger among those who witnessed the aftermath.
Authorities have reminded motorists to remain vigilant and cautious, especially when approaching stopped emergency vehicles. They emphasized that even a moment’s inattention can result in irreversible consequences. As the investigation continues, the community mourns the loss of Anne F. Everton, whose life was cut short in a moment of senseless tragedy.
