DA: Clay hit-and-run driver says he doesn't remember what happened night of crash
(CNY Central photo)
CLAY, N.Y. — The Onondaga County District Attorney told CNY Central that 23-year-old Joshua Schiano said he doesn't remember what happened Thursday night when he allegedly hit 22-year-old Madison Faltisco with his car and killed her along Route 57 in the Town of Clay.
"He has extensively said he has no recollection of the evening's events," said DA Bill Fitzpatrick, adding "he can say whatever he wants or not say whatever he wants, that's not going to affect our ability to prosecute the case."
DA Fitzpatrick said Schiano and Faltisco were coworkers and friends and didn't have any issues prosecutors know of leading up to that night. They know they were planning to go out, and they did, to The Gathering Lounge along Route 57 according to the DA.
That's when he said Faltisco tried calling a family member and her boyfriend to get a ride home from the bar because she didn't want to get in the car with Schiano, who had been drinking. With no luck, the DA said she decided to walk.
MORE:Victim of a deadly hit-and-run refused to get in car with suspect after night of drinking
Investigators said Schiano hit her with his car, then kept driving. Minutes later, around 10:40 p.m., court papers say Schiano hit a sign at the Salvation Army thrift store down the road, and his car burst into flames. First responders arrived to the scene, which Schiano survived with no serious injuries. But, Schiano didn't tell the police about hitting Faltsico.
"No one is to blame for not knowing about the previous incident, Mr. Schiano didn't share that with us," explained the DA.
Faltisco's body was not found until the next morning by a passerby who called 911.
DA Fitzpatrick said he's confident the case will be in front of a grand jury sometime in July, and until then, every possible detail will be looked at, "to see whether or not there's any evidence in the case indicating that he did this intentionally, as opposed to simply struck her unknowingly because of the level of his intoxication."