WESTERLO — Yesterday, a 77-year-old woman from Medusa was killed in a car accident at the intersection of routes 401 and 404 in Westerlo. 

The 78-year-old passenger in her car was transported by Med Flight to Albany Medical Center, where he is in critical condition, police say. 

“It was a very, very horrific impact — probably one of the worst I’ve seen in a long time,” said Chief Deputy Craig Apple with the Albany County Sheriff’s Department. 

The department had not released her name or the name of her passenger as of yesterday late afternoon.  Apple said the department had not yet reached the families.

A preliminary investigation, based on an eyewitness account, shows the woman was driving a 2001 Hyundai Accent and traveling west on Route 404, when, at about 1 p.m., she failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection, according to the sheriff’s department. 

As the Hyundai entered the intersection, police say, it was hit in the driver’s side by a 1987 Cadillac traveling north and driven by Edward Kelly, 73, of Greenville.  All three were wearing their seat belts and none were thrown from the vehicles, Apple said. 

Albany County Coroner John Keegan pronounced the Medusa woman dead at the scene.  Kelly was transported to Albany Medical Center by the Greenville Rescue Squad.  He was in fair condition yesterday evening, according to a spokesperson at Albany Medical Center. 

The Greenville Fire Department and the Westerlo Fire Department assisted at the scene.  The sheriff’s criminal investigations unit is investigating the accident, and, at this time, the department says, it does not believe alcohol or speed were contributing factors.

Asked yesterday if weather or bad brakes contributed to the accident, Apple said the department will be looking at all of those things and is right now basing its investigation on an eyewitness account.  He said the investigation is “very preliminary.”