Mom and son killed in NY crash while returning from college orientation

The crash happened shortly before 5 p.m. on July 19 on I-86 in Chemung, New York
The crash happened shortly before 5 p.m. on July 19 on I-86 in Chemung, New York. Photo credit New York State Police

CHEMUNG, N.Y. (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- A mother and her 18-year-old son were killed when another driver struck their car head-on as they returned from a college orientation in Upstate New York, according to state police and a family friend.

Tiffany Ferrell, 44, and her son, Colin Ferrell, were traveling on I-86 in the town of Chemung, about 45 miles west of Binghamton, at the time of the crash Friday afternoon.

Colin Ferrell was driving their Acura RDX eastbound around 4:50 p.m. when a westbound driver in a Nissan Maxima "crossed over the median" and struck their vehicle head-on, police said.

The Ferrells, of Endicott, New York, were pronounced dead at the scene, as was the other driver, Steven Mallory, 36, of Horseheads, New York.

According to a GoFundMe page, the mom and son were traveling from a college orientation and leave behind three family members, including Tiffany Ferrell's husband and their two other children.

"As I sit here overwhelmed with sorrow, grief, and anger, I can't help with also being overwhelmed with the amount of love and incredible support that is being shown to my family," the husband, Dan, said in a statement on the fundraiser, which was set up by a family friend. "We lost two amazing, dynamic, caring, and loving family members that can never be replaced."

Union-Endicott superintendent Nicole Wolfe and high school principal Steven DiStefano released a joint statement on the victims to the Press & Sun-Bulletin: "Colin was a kind and compassionate student who loved playing baseball, and Tiffany was a dedicated volunteer for the district, involved in many school and community-related endeavors."

In a press release over the weekend, state police said the crash remained under investigation.

Featured Image Photo Credit: New York State Police