Man Who Allegedly Stole 4-Wheeler Was Fatally Hit by Passing Car During Getaway

A man who allegedly stole a four-wheeler was fatally hit by a passing truck as he was attempting, with two accomplices, to leave the scene.

43-Year-old Bridgewater, New York resident David Elliot was found laying in the road when troopers responded to the accident scene at approximately 9:30pm on Thursday, March 19, 2015.  It appears that he was laying in the northbound lane of State Route 8 in the Madison County town of Brookfield when he was hit by a car driven by Thomas Jones of St. Johnsville.

Two witnesses at the scene, identified as 30-year old Richard A. Murphy of Cassville and 23-year old Stephanie Southard of Bridgewater, said that they had been riding in David Elliot's truck when they say he slowed the vehicle and exited the driver's side door.  He hit his head on the pavement and was then run over by Jones' vehicle.

In a written statement New York State Police say their investigation suggested a slightly different scenario.  Troopers say that their investigation revealed that Elliot, Murphy, and Southard had allegedly stolen the four-wheeler from a nearby home.  They say that Elliot was in the bed of his pickup truck when he fell out and onto the ground before being hit by Jones' vehicle.

An autopsy conducted by the Onondaga County Medical Examiner's Office on Friday showed that Elliott had suffered a head injury from the initial fall from the truck before he was hit by the driver of the passing car.  It was determined that Thomas Jones was not liable for the accident and was therefore not issued any tickets.

The passengers in Elliott's truck,  Murphy and Southard, were arrested on March 21st and charged with burglary in the third degree.  Both were arraigned in Brookfield Town Court and are being held at the Madison County Jail.  The investigation is continuing and additional charges may be pending.