A city man who was seriously injured early Thursday morning when a car plowed into him on Henry Street died from his injuries later Thursday.
Ryan P. Rossley, 27, of Saratoga Springs, died at 5:50 p.m. at Albany Medical Center Hospital, where he had been airlifted after the hit-and-run accident, city police said.
The fatal accident happened after Rossley had a fight or heated argument with the driver, police said.
Rossley received the critical injuries in the 4:25 a.m. hit-and-run accident. Police are still seeking the driver, who they say may have been driving a black or dark-colored sedan, possibly a Nissan Maxima.
“Investigators have not ruled out that this was an intentional act,” said Police Chief Christopher Cole.
The fight and subsequent accident occurred at the end of St. Patrick’s Day revelry.
“It was a very busy night in Saratoga,” Cole said.
Sgt. John Catone, who is investigating the case, said there is definitely a relationship between a fight in the parking lot at the corner of Caroline and Henry streets and the hit-and-run accident.
Police believe the fight started outside a bar. There are several bars near where the accident occurred.
Lt. Greg Veitch would not comment on whether a weapon was involved in the fight.
Police would not release details about the path the car took other than it was traveling south on Henry Street and then apparently drove south on Broadway.
But accident reconstruction markers at the scene Thursday appeared to show that the driver pulled out of a private parking lot across from the Saratoga Springs Public Library and turned left on Henry Street, hitting Rossley at some point.
Henry Street between Caroline and Spring streets was closed for several hours on Thursday, reopening by 4 p.m. State police accident investigators joined city police at the scene.
Investigators swabbed blood near Clancy’s Tavern on Caroline Street, but Veitch said police did not know whether the blood was related to the fight between the two men.
Authorities are still withholding information on the car because of the investigation, Veitch said. Investigators continue to interview witnesses.
Rossley was helped by other people at the scene before police arrived, Cole said.
City police could not pinpoint Rossley’s exact address in the city. They say they had one address for him but he may have moved from that location in recent months.
Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to call police at 584-1800, or to leave an anonymous tip, call 584-TIPS (8477).
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