Driver charged with DWI, manslaughter

Niskayuna Police seeking witnesses, video of suspect

Two weeks after a crash that killed a Colonie man on Route 7, an Orange County woman was charged with manslaughter and assault and authorities made a rare plea hoping the public can provide camera recordings of the woman’s Jeep as it traveled to the crash scene.

Police say Gina Hassan of Goshen was driving drunk on July 1 when her vehicle collided head-on with a car occupied by a Colonie couple near the intersection of Route 7 and Lisha Kill Road in Niskayuna.

The crash killed 77year-old Dennis Farrell, injured his wife and triggered a chain reaction that damaged two other vehicles.

On Wednesday, Hassan was charged and arraigned before town Justice Peter Scagnellion with the felonies as well as a variety of traffic violations, including driving while intoxicated. She was sent to the county jail. The investigation is not over and police say more criminal charges are possible.

But Niskayuna police and the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office want the public’s help and are specifically interested in interviewing any eyewitnesses or examining any surveillance footage from homes or business that could provide additional clues and insight into the crash.

Police and prosecutors say it appears that Hassan left the Hillcrest Village apartments on Rosa Road around 2:50 p.m., proceeded along River Road to the intersection of Balltown Road before turning right onto Route 7 into neighboring Schenectady. There, they said, she reversed course and headed eastbound on Route 7.

Anyone with useful information is asked to contact the Niskayuna Police Department at 518-386-4584 or the DA’S office at 518-388-4364.