Kingston woman walking home from work killed on Wyoming Avenue near Pierce Street.
EDWARD LEWIS elewis@timesleader.com
KINGSTON – An employee at Wilkes-Barre Movies 14 was killed when she was struck by three vehicles as she walked across Wyoming Avenue Wednesday night.
Police Chief Keith Keiper identified the woman as 31-year-old Sharon Shaughnessy, of Kingston.
Shaughnessy was walking home from the movie theaters and crossing Wyoming Avenue near Pierce Street when she was struck in the northbound lane by a sport utility vehicle just after 10:30 p.m., Keiper said.
Keiper said she was then struck in the southbound lane by a second vehicle, and again by another vehicle traveling south on Wyoming Avenue.
The drivers of the first vehicle and third vehicle that struck Shaughnessy sped away, and the driver of the second vehicle stopped at the scene, Keiper said.
Hours after the accident, the driver of the first vehicle surrendered to authorities. Her name hasn’t been released because of the ongoing investigation, Keiper said.
Keiper said the driver of the third vehicle, possibly a silver or light-colored 2003 or 2004 Volvo, is being sought.
“We have witnesses who witnessed the accident,” Keiper said.
Shaughnessy was pronounced dead at the scene by Luzerne County Chief Deputy Coroner William Lisman.
Results from an autopsy performed by forensic pathologist Dr. Mary Pascucci at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital on Thursday were not released by the Luzerne County Coroner’s Office.
Lisman referred questions to District Attorney Jacqueline Musto Carroll, who declined comment. Keiper said two detectives are actively investigating the case.
“They’re out interviewing witnesses,” Keiper said. “Once they get what they need, we’ll refer our case to the district attorney’s office.”
Keiper said it’s too soon to determine if criminal charges will be filed.
Wyoming Avenue, officially called U.S. Route 11, was closed for several hours Wednesday night into Thursday morning as investigators reconstructed the accident. Orange-colored spray paint markings on the pavement showed where Shaughnessy was struck and where her body was found.
Shaughnessy was employed in concessions at the movie theaters for approximately two years. A movie theater official declined further comment due to company policy.
Anyone with information about the driver of the third vehicle is asked to contact Kingston police at 287-6911.
Driver of third car that struck pedestrian is being sought in fatal Kingston accident.
BY BOB KALINOWSKI
STAFF WRITER
Published: Friday, August 29, 2008 4:20 AM EDT
Authorities say they have not determined what charges are warranted in the bizarre death of a female pedestrian who was struck Wednesday night in Kingston by three successive vehicles, two of which fled the scene.
“It’s a complicated matter, so it’s under investigation,” Luzerne County District Attorney Jackie Musto Carroll said Thursday. “Obviously, it’s a tragedy, but we have to let the police do their job.”
Kingston police identified the victim as Sharon Shaughnessy, 31, of Kingston. She died at the scene.
Police say Shaughnessy was hit as she crossed Wyoming Avenue at Pierce Street around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday. She was walking home from her job at Movies 14 in Wilkes-Barre.
Investigators say a key turning point in their crash probe came early Thursday afternoon when the driver of the first vehicle to hit the woman surrendered to police. The female driver was questioned by detectives, but no charges were immediately filed. Her name was not released.
According to Kingston police Chief Keith Keiper, initial crash investigation reports indicated that the first vehicle was northbound on Wyoming Avenue toward Forty Fort when it hit Shaughnessy, pushed her into the southbound lane and fled.
A second vehicle driving in the southbound lane then struck the woman. The female driver stopped and later provided information to police.
A third vehicle traveling in the southbound lane ran over the victim and also drove off.
Police are trying to track down the driver of the third vehicle, a silver/gray car, possibly a Volvo.
“It’s a sad thing. People are supposed to stop at the scene of an accident. You have to know you hit something,” Keiper said.
“This is one of the worst I’ve seen in a long time.”
The driver who turned herself in on Thursday is cooperating, Keiper said. He called her surrender “an important piece of the puzzle.”
Keiper would not indicate how close his department is to making a determination on charges, but it could hinge on what the third driver has to say.
“Once we gather all our reports, we’ll talk to the district attorney,” Keiper said.
Kingston police are asking anyone with information about the crash or the third driver’s whereabouts to call police at 287-6911 or call 911.
Breaking News: Third driver involved in fatal hit-and-run surrenders to police 2 p.m.
Published: Friday, August 29, 2008 5:55 PM EDT
The third driver involved in Wednesday night’s fatal hit-and-run in Kingston surrendered to police this morning, Kingston police said.
After watching television news reports on Thursday night, the driver realized she may have been involved, police said.
Police have now spoken with all three drivers who struck Sharon Shaughnessy along Wyoming Avenue at Pierce Street around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Shaughnessy died at the scene.
Investigators will now meet with prosecutors to determine what charges, if any, will be filed.
Initial crash investigation reports indicated the first vehicle was northbound on Wyoming Avenue toward Forty Fort when it hit Shaughnessy and pushed her into the southbound lane. A second vehicle driving in the southbound lane then struck the woman. A third vehicle traveling in the southbound lane ran over the victim.
The first driver fled, and turned herself in Thursday. The second driver stopped at the scene, and she provided information to police. The third driver surrendered this morning.
Police say all three drivers are cooperating. The two drivers who surrendered over the past two days did not try to repair any damages or clean their vehicles of evidence, police said.
There’s no timetable when charges could be filed. Investigators are planning to meet next week and review reports.
"It’s a complicated matter, so it’s under investigation," Luzerne County District Attorney Jackie Musto Carroll said Thursday. "Obviously, it’s a tragedy, but we have to let the police do their job."
Shaughnessy worked at Movies 14 in Wilkes-Barre, and was walking home when she was hit.
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