John John Heneghan and his wife Caitlin. Facebook photo.
By Irish Echo Staff
An alleged drunk driver has taken the life of a County Mayo man and his American wife in upstate New York.
And two Dublin men and a third passenger were also seriously injured in the car crash that killed John John Heneghan (33) and his wife Caitlin Holtzman (32).
Mr. Heneghan was originally from Tourmakeady in County Mayo, but had been living and working in the New York area.
An allegedly drunk driver was arrested following the tragedy in the town of Clifton Park on Saturday afternoon, May 25.
Clifton Park is in Saratoga County and about 12 miles from Albany.
The couple’s car was stopped at a traffic light when it was struck.
The injured were named as Dubliners Luke O'Doherty (25) and Enda Crowley (31), along with Virginia native Julia Staples (24). Their injuries have been described as serious but not life-threatening.
Mr. O'Doherty, according to an Irish Independent report, is from Carpenterstown in West Dublin and is a keen hurler.
Mr. Crowley is from Templeogue and has been living in the U.S. for a number of years. He is the vice-president of a construction company with a branch based in New York.
The man arrested in connection with the incident has been named by New York State Police as Dickie R. Winn (58) of Cohoes, New York.
The defendant, an army veteran, has been charged with aggravated vehicular homicide and two counts of vehicular manslaughter, as well as driving while intoxicated.
According to The Daily Gazette newspaper, Judge James Hughes denied bail.
The family, said the Independent report, have announced that there will be cremation of John and Caitlin's remains and a memorial service in the U.S. followed by a funeral Mass/memorial service in Tourmakeady and interment of ashes. The exact arrangements will be announced later.
