Driver who caused horrific fatal crash in Clay suffered a medical episode, troopers say

Syracuse, N.Y. — A man who drove at a high speed through a red light in Clay last month, colliding with another car, killing himself and another person, suffered a medical episode prior to the crash, troopers said Tuesday.

An autopsy of the driver, Michael Paetow, revealed he suffered from extensive heart disease that caused him to have the medical episode, troopers said in a news release.

There was no evidence of drugs or alcohol in his system, trooper said.

Paetow, 72, of Liverpool, died from electrical and blunt force injuries sustained in the collision, troopers said the autopsy showed.

Paetow died in the crash on Oct. 13 at Route 31 and Route 57 (Oswego Road) in Clay. His Ford Mustang smashed into a Ford Escape in the intersection.

A passenger in the Ford Escape, Dawn Brown, 58 of Mattydale, died in the crash.

Brown’s niece, Shaylee A. Allen, 26, of Tully, was driving the Ford Escape. Allen and her 11-month-old daughter, Roxanne Rizzo, were injured in the crash. They were both hospitalized, but were expected to recover.