Man who killed friend in hit and run in Clay was 5 times over drinking limit, DA says

Clay, N.Y. — A man was more than five times over the legal drinking limit when he fatally hit his friend in Clay before driving away and striking a store sign in June, the Onondaga County district attorney said Friday.

Joshua Schiano, 23, had a BAC level of .43 at the time of the crash that killed Madison Faltisco, 22, the night of June 8 on Oswego Road, District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said.

Schiano’s case will go in front of a grand jury next week, the DA said. He’s charged with second-degree manslaughter, second-degree vehicular manslaughter and leaving the scene of a fatal vehicle accident.

Faltisco was walking along Oswego Road to avoid getting a ride with Schiano, who she had been drinking with earlier, Fitzpatrick said previously. She was worried about how much Schiano had to drink, he said. The two were co-workers.

After hitting Faltisco, Schiano drove off around 10:40 p.m. and hit a Salvation Army store sign at 7595 Oswego Road, less than a mile from the first crash. Schiano’s car burst into flames.

He was taken into custody but deputies said Schiano didn’t tell police that night that he had hit someone.

Faltisco wasn’t discovered until 5 a.m. the next morning.

Staff writer Fernando Alba covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, question or comment? Reach him: Email | Twitter or at 315-690-6950.