Liverpool’s close‑knit streets stood still Friday evening when 33‑year‑old Isaac Joseph Signorelli was killed after being hit by a vehicle near the intersection of Morgan Road and Grampian Road. Neighbors and first responders rushed to the scene around 5:50 p.m. on January 23, rescuing Signorelli and hoping for a miracle, but he later died at Upstate University Hospital.
Signorelli was walking in or near the roadway when a northbound vehicle struck him in the heart of the village of Liverpool, according to the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office. The circumstances that led up to the collision are still unclear, and investigators say they are working to piece together what happened.
Witnesses at the scene were shaken and quick to act. Several people called 911 and immediately began giving Signorelli lifesaving aid until deputies and emergency medical teams arrived. Their efforts brought a moment of hope to a grim scene, but his injuries were too severe. He was taken by ambulance to Syracuse for treatment, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The tragic incident forced authorities to close Morgan Road in both directions for over two hours while the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office Accident Investigation Unit documented the crash and gathered evidence. The road finally reopened to traffic just after 9 p.m. Friday night, but not before leaving many drivers and residents deeply unsettled.
Investigators have not yet said whether Signorelli was in a marked crosswalk, whether the driver stayed at the scene, or if factors like lighting, speed or roadway conditions played a role. No arrests or charges have been reported so far, and Sheriff’s officials have urged anyone with information to come forward.
For those who knew him, Signorelli was more than a name in a report. Family, friends and neighbors remember him for his warmth and quiet presence in the Clay‑Liverpool community, where he lived and worked. Tributes shared by those close to him reflect a life full of possibility, now cut heartbreakingly short.
As the investigation continues, law enforcement officials are reminding drivers to watch for pedestrians, especially at dusk when visibility fades, and pedestrians to stay alert near roadways. The loss of Signorelli has left many in Liverpool reflecting on how fragile life can be and the way communities come together in the seconds that matter most.
