JOINT PRESS RELEASE
Schenectady County District Attorney Robert M. Carney
Niskayuna Police Deputy Chief (Acting Chief) Michael Stevens
We are asking for public assistance in an ongoing joint investigation by the Niskayuna Police Department and the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office regarding an automobile crash that took place on July 1, 2021 at the intersection of Route 7 and Lisha Kill Road in the Town of Niskayuna. That collision unfortunately and tragically took the life of Dennis Farrell, 77, of the Town of Colonie, and also caused injuries to his wife.
The collision was caused by the actions of the driver of a black Jeep who was proceeding eastbound on Route 7 at around 3:15 p.m. on July 1, when her car struck the car driven by the Farrells head on as they were preparing to turn left on Lisha Kill. That collision then produced a chain reaction that caused property damage to two other vehicles behind the Farrell’s car.
We believe that the woman driving the Jeep left the Hillcrest Village Apartments on Rosa Road around 2:50 p.m. on July 1, drove up River Road to the intersection with Balltown Road, turned right and proceeded southbound on Balltown Road to Route 7, then turned right on Route 7 and drove on that road into the City of Schenectady, but then reversed course shortly, traveling then eastbound on Route 7 to Lisha Kill Road where she precipitated the collision. We are asking members of the public who witnessed any erratic driving at that time and in those places or who may own camera systems, either private residential or commercial, along those corridors to check any archived video images to see what they may have recorded that sheds light on this matter. If you have any such information, please contact the Niskayuna Police Department at 518-386-4584 and ask for Det/Sgt. Joseph Twitty or the District Attorney’s Office at (518) 388-4364 and ask for Investigator John Madden.
The driver of the Jeep, Gina Hassan, of Goshen, New York, was charged yesterday by the Niskayuna Police with the crime of Manslaughter in the Second Degree and Assault in the Second Degree for causing the injuries to Mrs. Farrell and she was also arraigned on various traffic infractions including Driving While Intoxicated. The charges against Ms. Hassan are merely accusations, and as such, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. She was arraigned before Niskayuna Town Judge Peter Scagnelli who remanded her to the custody of the Schenectady County Correctional Facility. The People were represented by Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Christina Tremante-Pelham and the defendant was represented by attorney Rory Brady. The investigation is ongoing and further charges are possible.