Ashley M. Faubert, 29, Ilion Firefighter/Paramedic Killed in Single-Vehicle Crash on County Highway 22 in Richfield, NY; Investigation Ongoing.

‘She Ran Toward Danger’: Ilion Firefighter/Paramedic Ashley M. Faubert, 29, Dies in Late-Night Crash on Rural Otsego County Road

RICHFIELD, N.Y. – The rural roads of Otsego County, winding through rolling hills and quiet farmland, are usually a refuge from the noise of city life. But on a cool Friday night, one of those roads became the site of an unthinkable tragedy. Ashley M. Faubert, a 29-year-old firefighter and paramedic who had dedicated her life to saving others, lost her own life in a single-vehicle crash on County Highway 22. She was the sole occupant of the vehicle. Despite frantic efforts by nearby residents and emergency crews, she was pronounced dead at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown.

The New York State Police reported that the crash occurred around 9:30 p.m. on April 10, 2026, on County Highway 22 just south of Butternut Road in the town of Richfield, Otsego County. For reasons still under investigation, Faubert’s vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree. The impact was catastrophic.

“Ashley was one of the best,” said Ilion Fire Department Chief Robert Schrader, his voice breaking. “She didn’t just do this job – she lived it. She ran toward danger when everyone else ran away. And now she’s gone. It doesn’t seem real.”

The news has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit communities of Ilion, Richfield, and the wider Mohawk Valley. For a department that has lost one of its own, the grief is profound. For a family that has lost a daughter, the pain is immeasurable. And for a profession that asks so much of its members, the death of a young, dedicated first responder is a bitter reminder of how fragile life can be.

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Who Was Ashley M. Faubert?

Ashley M. Faubert, 29, was a firefighter and paramedic with the Ilion Fire Department, a combination career and volunteer department in Herkimer County, about 15 miles east of Utica. She had been with the department for six years, joining shortly after completing her paramedic training. Colleagues describe her as fearless, compassionate, and relentlessly professional.

“Ashley was the first person to volunteer for the tough calls – the cardiac arrests, the pediatric traumas, the fires in the middle of the night,” said Lieutenant Megan O’Brien, who worked alongside Faubert for five years. “She never complained. She never froze. She just did the work, and she did it with a calm confidence that made everyone around her better.”

Born and raised in the Mohawk Valley, Faubert attended Ilion High School, where she was a standout athlete in soccer and track. After graduation, she earned her EMT certification at Herkimer County Community College and went on to complete a rigorous paramedic program at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse.

Before joining the Ilion Fire Department, Faubert worked as an EMT for a private ambulance service, where she was known for going above and beyond for patients. “She would stay after her shift to hold an elderly patient’s hand if they were scared,” said former coworker Dan Rivers. “She treated every person like family.”

Faubert was also a volunteer with the Richfield Springs Fire Department, where she lived. She was deeply involved in community education, teaching CPR classes and fire safety to schoolchildren. In her spare time, she loved hiking in the Adirondacks, kayaking on Otsego Lake, and training her German shepherd, Koda.

“She was always doing something active, always pushing herself,” said her younger sister, Brittany Faubert. “But she also had the softest heart. She would cry at animal rescue commercials. She sent me care packages when I was away at college. She was my hero.”

Faubert is survived by her parents, Mark and Linda Faubert of Ilion; her sister Brittany; her brother, Michael; and her fiancé, James Hartley, a police officer in a neighboring town. The couple had been engaged for eight months and were planning a fall 2027 wedding.

“We were supposed to have a lifetime,” Hartley said in a tearful statement. “Now I have to plan a funeral instead of a wedding. Ashley was my everything. I don’t know how to do this without her.”

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The Crash: What State Police Know

According to the New York State Police – Troop C, which covers Otsego County, the crash occurred at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Friday, April 10. Faubert was driving a personal vehicle – described as a 2021 Subaru Outback – southbound on County Highway 22, a two-lane rural road that sees little traffic at night. Just south of the intersection with Butternut Road, for reasons not yet determined, the Subaru left the east side of the roadway, traveled across a grassy shoulder, and struck a large tree head-on.

There were no other vehicles involved. Faubert was the sole occupant. She was wearing a seatbelt, according to preliminary reports, but the force of the impact was so severe that she suffered critical injuries.

Nearby residents heard the crash and rushed to the scene. They found Faubert unconscious and trapped in the wreckage. They called 911 and attempted to provide first aid until emergency responders arrived. Richfield Springs Fire Department and EMS crews responded within minutes, along with state troopers.

“The people who lived nearby did everything they could,” said Trooper First Class Vanessa M. Cole. “They were heroes themselves. But the injuries were too severe.”

Faubert was extricated from the vehicle and transported by ambulance to Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, approximately 12 miles away. Despite aggressive life-saving measures in the emergency room – including intubation, blood transfusions, and chest compressions – she was pronounced dead at 11:17 p.m.

The New York State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit has been called in to investigate. Troopers are examining the vehicle’s event data recorder (the “black box”), analyzing skid marks and debris patterns, and reviewing weather conditions. The road was dry, visibility was good, and there were no reported animals or obstacles on the roadway.

“We are looking at speed, possible mechanical failure, driver distraction, or a medical event,” Trooper Cole said. “At this point, nothing has been ruled out. We ask for patience as we conduct a thorough investigation.”

An autopsy has been ordered by the Otsego County Medical Examiner’s Office. Toxicology results are pending, though there is no indication that alcohol or drugs played a role.

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The Ilion Fire Department: Mourning a Fallen Hero

The Ilion Fire Department is a small but mighty force, serving a village of approximately 8,000 people. Losing a member in the line of duty is every department’s worst nightmare – but losing a member off-duty, in a tragic accident, is no less devastating.

“Ashley wasn’t on a call when she died,” Chief Schrader said. “She was just driving home. That almost makes it harder. Because there’s no enemy to fight, no fire to put out. Just a dark road and a tree.”

The department has lowered its flag to half-staff. Firefighters have placed black bunting over the station’s entrance. A memorial of flowers, candles, and firefighter gear has grown outside the station on Central Avenue.

On Saturday morning, the department held a private gathering for members. “We cried together. We told stories. We hugged,” said Lt. O’Brien. “And then we went back to work. Because that’s what Ashley would want. She would want us to keep answering the calls.”

The Ilion Fire Department has also set up a fund to support Faubert’s family and to establish a scholarship in her name for future paramedics. Donations have poured in from fire departments across the state, as well as from law enforcement agencies, EMS services, and ordinary citizens.

“The outpouring has been incredible,” said Mayor John Stephens of Ilion. “Ashley touched so many lives. Now those lives are touching back.”

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A Community in Mourning

Richfield is a small hamlet within the town of Richfield, population roughly 2,500. News of the crash spread quickly through the community. On Saturday morning, a makeshift memorial appeared at the crash site on County Highway 22 – a wooden cross, a bouquet of sunflowers, and a firefighter’s helmet placed at the base of the tree.

“I didn’t know Ashley personally, but I knew of her,” said Richfield resident Patricia O’Hara. “She was the one who helped my neighbor when he had a heart attack last winter. She saved his life. Now she’s gone. It just breaks your heart.”

The Richfield Springs Fire Department, where Faubert also volunteered, held a moment of silence at its monthly meeting. Chief Brian Wilber said, “Ashley was a rising star. She brought energy, knowledge, and kindness to every drill, every call. We are devastated.”

A candlelight vigil is planned for Sunday evening at the Ilion Fire Department. Firefighters from across the region are expected to attend in dress uniforms. The service will include a bell ceremony, a tradition in the fire service to honor a fallen member.

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First Responder Grief: A Heavy Burden

The death of a firefighter or paramedic – even off-duty – resonates deeply within the emergency services community. First responders are accustomed to loss, but losing one of their own is uniquely painful.

“We spend our careers trying to prevent deaths, trying to save strangers,” said Dr. Ellen Marks, a psychologist who specializes in first responder mental health. “When a colleague dies, especially someone young and vital like Ashley, it can trigger feelings of guilt, helplessness, and existential fear. It’s critical that departments provide grief support.”

The Ilion Fire Department has arranged for critical incident stress management (CISM) debriefings for all members. The New York State Firefighters Association has also offered counseling services.

“We take care of each other,” Chief Schrader said. “That’s what Ashley would want. We will grieve, but we will also heal – together.”

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The Investigation: What Comes Next

New York State Police have not yet released a preliminary cause of the crash. The Collision Reconstruction Unit’s analysis could take several weeks. Once complete, the findings will be shared with the Otsego County District Attorney’s Office. Since this was a single-vehicle crash with no other party at fault, no criminal charges are anticipated unless mechanical failure due to negligent maintenance is discovered – which is unlikely.

The family has been notified and has asked for privacy. They have released a brief statement: “Ashley was a light in this world. She saved lives every day. We are heartbroken but so proud of her. We ask for your prayers and your support as we navigate this unimaginable loss.”

A funeral service is being planned. The family has indicated that it will be a firefighter’s funeral, with full honors – a procession of apparatus, a bagpiper, and a final radio call. Details will be announced in the coming days.

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A Final Farewell

On a quiet Saturday afternoon, a lone firefighter stood at the crash site on County Highway 22. He placed a single rose on the cross and stood at attention for a full minute. Then he turned and walked back to his truck, its lights flashing silently.

And on a dark road in Richfield, New YAshley M. Faubert was 29 years old. She was a daughter, a sister, a fiancée, a firefighter, a paramedic, a friend. She ran toward danger when others ran away. She held the hands of the dying and delivered babies into the world. She taught children to stop, drop, and roll. She loved a good hike, a good dog, and a good life.ork, that life was taken in an instant.

Rest in peace, Ashley M. Faubert. You will not be forgotten.

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Anyone with information about the crash on County Highway 22 on April 10, 2026, is asked to contact the New York State Police – Troop C at (607) 561-7400. Anonymous tips can be submitted to NYS Crime Stoppers at 1-866-313-8477.

A memorial fund has been established at the Ilion Fire Department, 5 Central Ave., Ilion, NY 13357. Donations will support the family of Ashley M. Faubert and a scholarship for paramedic students. Please make checks payable to “Ilion Fire Department – Ashley Faubert Memorial.”