High-Speed Car Chase Tragedy; Daniel Conklin's Pre-Trial in Herkimer County
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: August 29, 2012
It was a high-speed car chase that ended tragically with one woman dead
and 2 others hospitalized. Daniel Conklin of Rochester was arraigned on
second-degree manslaughter, as well as many other charges after police
say he led them on a chase that ended in the death of a 65-year-old
Frankfort woman. Eyewitness News reporter Rachel Polansky attended
Conklin's pre-trial hearing this afternoon and spoke with eyewitnesses.
Rachel, what are the latest details?
The Herkimer County Assistant District Attorney met with Daniel Conklin's defense attorney and the judge for a pre-trial conference this afternoon. Now no offers were made today but I spoke with the Assistant District Attorney and visited the scene of the crash to find out what some eyewitnesses had to say.
"It was just a flash and then i was wondering whats the problem, I walked outside," says George Khoury, Route 5 business owner.
"Then you saw, it must've been impact at that point where all the lights had just stopped," says Don Dust, Route 5 resident.
According to police, Daniel Conklin sped through a school zone and refused to stop when Herkimer Police attempted to pull him over. As he fled from police, authorities say speeds reached over 80 miles per hour as the chase progressed from Herkimer and over route 5 into Schyuler.
"The allegations are due to his speed, he was unable to stop in time," says Jeffrey Carpenter, Assistant District Attorney of Herkimer County.
And 65-year-old Gail Pietruska of Frankfort was the bystander who felt the brunt of the high-speed chase.
"At the point of the crash, she was making a turn onto state route 5. And he obviously did strike her in the driver side of the vehicle," says Carpenter.
Now this is where the chase came to an end. Pietruska attempted to make a left turn off of Paratore Road onto route 5 when Conklin's car slammed into her SUV. One eyewitness says he couldn't believe how fast Conklin and the police officer were driving during the chase and he thinks the police officer should be punished.
"I feel the trooper was going way to fast following and edging him on to go faster. If i pulled out, it could've killed me," says Khoury.
"They could have had policeman coming from a different direction and avoided the whole tragedy," says Dust.
But the Assistant District Attorney says he believes Herkimer Police did nothing wrong.
"The officer involved was acting reasonably giving what he saw, he was reasonable in his actions," says Carpenter.
And he says they are still investigating the case.
"I need to have some discussion with the victim's family, as far as any resolution in this case short of going to trial," says Carpenter.
Now no new offers were made today but the motion return date has been set for September 24th when Daniel Conklin will file his motion.
The Herkimer County Assistant District Attorney met with Daniel Conklin's defense attorney and the judge for a pre-trial conference this afternoon. Now no offers were made today but I spoke with the Assistant District Attorney and visited the scene of the crash to find out what some eyewitnesses had to say.
"It was just a flash and then i was wondering whats the problem, I walked outside," says George Khoury, Route 5 business owner.
"Then you saw, it must've been impact at that point where all the lights had just stopped," says Don Dust, Route 5 resident.
According to police, Daniel Conklin sped through a school zone and refused to stop when Herkimer Police attempted to pull him over. As he fled from police, authorities say speeds reached over 80 miles per hour as the chase progressed from Herkimer and over route 5 into Schyuler.
"The allegations are due to his speed, he was unable to stop in time," says Jeffrey Carpenter, Assistant District Attorney of Herkimer County.
And 65-year-old Gail Pietruska of Frankfort was the bystander who felt the brunt of the high-speed chase.
"At the point of the crash, she was making a turn onto state route 5. And he obviously did strike her in the driver side of the vehicle," says Carpenter.
Now this is where the chase came to an end. Pietruska attempted to make a left turn off of Paratore Road onto route 5 when Conklin's car slammed into her SUV. One eyewitness says he couldn't believe how fast Conklin and the police officer were driving during the chase and he thinks the police officer should be punished.
"I feel the trooper was going way to fast following and edging him on to go faster. If i pulled out, it could've killed me," says Khoury.
"They could have had policeman coming from a different direction and avoided the whole tragedy," says Dust.
But the Assistant District Attorney says he believes Herkimer Police did nothing wrong.
"The officer involved was acting reasonably giving what he saw, he was reasonable in his actions," says Carpenter.
And he says they are still investigating the case.
"I need to have some discussion with the victim's family, as far as any resolution in this case short of going to trial," says Carpenter.
Now no new offers were made today but the motion return date has been set for September 24th when Daniel Conklin will file his motion.
