In a heartbreaking turn of events, a 22-year-old woman from New York lost her life after being struck by a car driven by her intoxicated coworker. Madison Faltisco made a brave decision to decline her coworker Joshua Schiano’s offer for a ride and opted to walk home instead. However, fate had a cruel twist in store for her as she became the victim of a hit-and-run accident that night, according to authorities.
Madison and Joshua, both in their early twenties, ventured out for a night on the town last Thursday, visiting several bars in the Syracuse area. Thomas Newton, the public information officer for the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, revealed that after spending a few hours together, Madison made the conscious choice not to accompany Joshua in his car due to his visible signs of intoxication. Determined to make it back home safely, she embarked on a lengthy walk of approximately 3 to 4 miles.
Tragically, Madison’s journey was cut short just a quarter-mile down the road. While walking along the shoulder, she was struck by Joshua’s Hyundai Elantra in a devastating collision. The impact proved fatal, yet Joshua callously fled the scene without rendering any aid, according to the criminal complaint provided by the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office.
Shortly after the hit-and-run, Joshua’s reckless actions led him to crash his vehicle into a pole approximately a mile away, resulting in a fiery wreck. He was subsequently transported to a hospital for treatment.
It was not until several hours later, during the early morning hours, that Madison’s lifeless body was discovered on the side of the road. The delayed finding only compounded the tragedy of the situation.
Following the incident, Joshua was arrested and now faces charges of second-degree manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, and fleeing the scene. Shockingly, he failed to report the accident to law enforcement officials during the six hours preceding the discovery of Madison’s body. Investigators believe Joshua was fully aware that he had struck someone with his vehicle.
The criminal complaint states, “After the motor vehicle accident, and with having cause to know that personal injury had been caused to another person, the defendant continued southbound…” Although it is established that Joshua was under the influence of alcohol, the complaint does not specify his exact blood alcohol level. As of now, Joshua’s attorney has not provided any comment on the incident.
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Madison Faltisco, a Syracuse native who graduated from high school in 2018, is remembered as a shining light that was tragically extinguished far too soon, as stated in her obituary.
This heartbreaking incident serves as a reminder of the dangers associated with drunk driving and the devastating consequences that can arise from such irresponsible actions.
