Joseph Wallace And Sharon A. McGriff Death, Obituary –Â A tragic accident in Sullivan County claimed the lives of two people on Monday, October 21, and caused a lengthy road closure on Route 17 West. The crash occurred at 11:55 a.m. near Exit 12 in Mamakating when a car collided with the back of a tractor-trailer, according to New York State Police. The victims were identified as 29-year-old Joseph Wallace of Woodbourne, who was driving a 2015 Dodge, and 38-year-old Sharon Ackerman McGriff of Monticello, who was the front-seat passenger.
The preliminary investigation revealed that Wallace’s vehicle was traveling westbound on Route 17 when it struck the rear of a 2010 Peterbilt tractor-trailer that was moving in the same direction. First responders quickly arrived at the scene and performed life-saving measures on both Wallace and McGriff. Unfortunately, despite their efforts, the victims succumbed to their injuries and were pronounced dead. The crash led to a significant road closure on Route 17, with traffic being diverted for several hours while authorities investigated the scene and cleared the wreckage.
State Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash, including what may have caused Wallace’s vehicle to collide with the tractor-trailer. Accidents involving large trucks can be especially dangerous due to the size and weight of these vehicles, which often results in severe consequences for smaller cars involved in collisions. This tragic event has left the local community in shock as they mourn the loss of two lives. The investigation remains ongoing, and no further details have been released at this time.
