Two Arrested After Fatal Hit And Run Accident in Saugerties

A couple from Malden, New York have been charged with numerous felonies after a fatal hit and run accident and then staging another accident to try and hide their involvement.

It was January 10th just after 5 p.m. when police in Saugerties, New York responded to a report of a fatal accident on a portion of Route 9W between the Village of Saugerties and the hamlet of Malden.

As police arrived on the scene it was reported that a woman was fatally struck by a vehicle and the driver had left the scene of the accident. After investigating and notifying the family police announced that the woman struck and killed was 21-year-old Starllie Swonyoung from Saugerties.

Earlier this week the Saugerties Police Department announced that after a lengthy investigation, they had located the vehicle that was allegedly involved in the tragic accident and were waiting for a grand jury to announce the name/names of the people who were allegedly driving the vehicle and it appears that they have received the indictment they were waiting for.

Saugerties Police Arrest Couple in Hit and Run

Saugerties police have arrested two suspects in the fatal hit-run and have charged them each with numerous felonies according to Crime Watch. Lacey Maxwell of Malden, NY has been charged with four felonies including Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Accident, Insurance Fraud 3rd, Staging a Motor Vehicle Accident, and Tampering with Physical Evidence.

Ryan Maxwell of Malden was also charged with three felonies including Insurance Fraud 3rd, Staging a Motor Vehicle Accident, and Tampering with Physical Evidence in connection to the fatal accident.

Couple Stages Fake Accident to Cover Up Hit and Run

After an almost two-month investigation and following various leads the Saugerties police are alleging that Lacey Maxwell was driving her 2021 Subaru vehicle Route 9W on January 10th when she struck Starllie Swonyoung while she was walking along the shoulder.

Police say that Maxwell then fled the scene and the following day, both Lacey and Ryan Maxwell staged an accident with the 2021 Subaru to account for the damage sustained from striking and killing Swonyoung.

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Both Maxwell's were sent to the Ulster County Jail and are expected to be arraigned in Ulster County Court on Wednesday.

Numerous agencies assisted Saugerties Police in this lengthy investigation including New York State Police Investigators, Troopers and Collision Reconstruction Unit, the Ulster County District Attorney's Office, Saugerties and Malden West Camp Fire Departments, and the Saugerties community.

This is a developing story and as more information becomes available we will update this article.