An Ilion firefighter and EMT was killed in a April 10 crash in Ridgefield, according to New York State Police.
The cause of death in the fatal one-vehicle crash on April 10, in the town of Richfield, which resulted in the death of Ashely M. Faubert, 29, is officially “multiple trauma,” according to New York State Police Troop C Public Information Officer Aga Tinker, on April 13, who confirmed the COD from the autopsy report, just recently completed.
New York State Police have led the investigation into the crash, as it was the first agency to respond to the scene.
According to a statement issued by NYSP regarding the incident, Faubert, the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, was transported by Otsego County Ambulance to Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, where she was later pronounced deceased.
Tinker noted that the investigation will not be officially closed until results from all lab results are received – which could take some time.
The autopsy report, though – pending those results – concludes that the likely cause of Faubert’s 2017 Kia Forte veering off of Otsego County Highway 22 head on into a tree just before 9:30 p.m. that evening, was that the vehicle was traveling “too fast for conditions.”
Tinker confirmed that the Motor Vehicles 104 report filed by the trooper who responded to the scene described weather conditions that night as “freezing rain/sleet/hail.” She identified the location of the crash, where the nearest intersection with Hwy. 22 was Butternut, as Faubert’s car traveled south from there.
Tinker confirmed there was a “slight curve” at that point on the road.
“Too fast for conditions does not necessarily mean she was speeding,” Tinker clarified, “but just traveling too fast for the combination of the weather and the roadway that night.”
People tried to help
The state police statements goes on to share that “residents in the area who heard the crash attempted to assist the driver. One neighbor who is also an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) initiated CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Life saving measures were continued by members of Otsego County Emergency Medical Services” when they arrived on the scene.
“I feel that’s a nice thing to know, that people did try to help,” said Tinker, “to know that there are still genuine people out there who will stop to help someone at the scene of an accident.”
Tinker felt that, while not required, it was important to include that in the Troopers’ release.
“That people were trying to help her, were there with her,” reflected Tinker, “I feel like family members would be comforted to know that.”
Ilion FD described Faubert as selflessly serving others
Faubert, who was from Ilion, had joined the fire department in her home town in October of 2023.
In a statement posted to social media, the Ilion Fire Department shared that Faubert “exemplified dedication, compassion, and professionalism both on and off duty … selflessly serving others with pride and integrity.”
Social media was almost instantly flooded with messages of condolences, together with favorite images of Faubert, including from the Mohawk FD, Albany Permanent Professional Firefighters Association, Local 2007, and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, together with family and friends.
Ilion FD asked the community to “keep Faubert, her family and friends, and all members of the Fire Service in their thoughts and prayers.”
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Ilion firefighter, EMT dies in Ridgefield crash
Reporting by Cara Dolan Berry, Utica Observer Dispatch / Observer-Dispatch
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