A 70-year-old Massena man died Thursday night after being struck by a car while he was reportedly collecting debris on State Route 37 in the town of Louisville. Michael Tessier was pronounced dead at the scene despite life-saving efforts from troopers and emergency personnel who responded to the unlit stretch of highway at about 8:10 p.m.
According to WWNY, New York State Police say Tessier was in the roadway gathering debris when he was hit by a vehicle traveling east on Route 37. The driver was identified as 22-year-old Aunamarie Shadle, also of Massena, who police say was behind the wheel of a white 2021 Volkswagen at the time of the crash.
Driver Stopped, Called Police Immediately
Shadle stopped her vehicle immediately after the impact and contacted law enforcement to report the crash, according to state police. As reported by My Champlain Valley, troopers and other emergency personnel arrived at the scene and administered life-saving measures to Tessier, but he could not be revived.
The crash happened in a section of Route 37 without lighting, a detail state police flagged in describing how the collision unfolded. Tessier was pronounced dead at the scene, and the same outlet's report notes that an autopsy has been scheduled, though the date and time had not yet been determined.
Investigation Continues
State police say the collision remains under investigation. No additional details about the exact cause have been released beyond the account that Tessier was in the roadway collecting debris when Shadle's eastbound vehicle struck him in the dark.
Pedestrian deaths like Tessier's reflect a broader pattern across New York State. Pedestrians accounted for almost one quarter of all roadway fatalities statewide between 2016 and 2020, according to ITSMR. The same research found that in both of its studies, half of the pedestrians killed were age 55 or older, a demographic that includes Tessier.
No further updates on the investigation into Tessier's death have been released. State police have not indicated when the autopsy will be completed or whether any additional findings will be made public.
