On Saturday, Aug. 25, Madison County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the scene of a motor vehicle accident that occurred at approximately 8 p.m. on Peterboro Road in the town of Fenner.

According to Madison County Undersheriff John Ball, an area resident called Madison County 911 just before 8 p.m. to report a crash that they heard about a quarter-mile east of Nelson Road, but no vehicle could be located at that time.

Sheriff’s deputies, Chittenango Fire/Rescue and Cazenovia Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps were dispatched to the area.

Ball said a vehicle, located about 150 feet from the roadway, was then discovered by a passerby just prior to the arrival of law enforcement officials.

“The investigation is ongoing, but what is known at this time is that a 2006 Jeep Liberty, operated by Kelly Schwab, 49, of Chittenango, was traveling westbound on Peterboro Road when her vehicle left the roadway near a curve, and proceeded down an embankment, through a ravine where it came to rest after rolling over at least three times, approximately 300 feet from where it left the roadway,” Ball stated in a press release. “Speed is a contributing factor to this accident.”

Investigating deputies report that Schwab was pronounced dead at the scene by CAVAC, and was transported to the Onondaga County Medical Examiner’s Office in Syracuse.

A male passenger in the vehicle, Shawn M. Jarvis, 26, of Chittenango, sustained serious injuries and was transported to Upstate Medical Hospital in Syracuse by CAVAC in serious condition.

Ball said Peterboro Road was closed to all traffic for about two-and-a-half hours, but was then reopened to motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

The case remains pending, as investigators await Schwab’s autopsy results from the Onondaga County Medical Examiner. Updates will be issued as additional information is made available.

Pierce Smith is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at 434-8889 ext. 338 or [email protected].