By LOHR McKINSTRY
TICONDEROGA — Local runner and community leader Anthony “Tony” Morette died after being struck by a passing tractor-trailer early Wednesday as he jogged in Ticonderoga.
Mr. Morette was found just after 5 a.m. on Shore Airport Road, near the intersection with Route 22, by three men in a passing car who were on their way to go hunting.
Although conscious at the accident site, Mr. Morette had suffered severe internal injuries and died an hour later at Moses-Ludington Hospital.
DESCRIBED Truck
Before he died, the 60-year-old was able to give Ticonderoga Town Police a description of the tractor-trailer that hit him.
A similar truck was later stopped by State Police at Exit 22 on the Adirondack Northway and the driver was questioned, although no charges have yet been filed.
Ticonderoga Police have asked that anyone with information about the incident call them at 585-2205.
The tractor-trailer was coming from International Paper’s Ticonderoga mill with a load of paper, and police said security logs at the mill confirm it left just before Mr. Morette was struck.
EARLY JOGGER
Officer Dale Quesnel was first to arrive after getting a call that someone was lying in the roadway.
“He obviously had been struck. He was out for his morning jog. He runs a lot, about that time frame.”
Morette’s wife, Susan, said her husband usually arose by 3:15 a.m. and was out jogging by 4 a.m., returning for breakfast at 6:30. He followed a route that took him all over the Town of Ticonderoga, including up Mount Defiance, she said.
‘TERRIBLE LOSS’
An electrician by trade, Mr. Morette often donated use of his bucket truck to put up holiday lights and event banners in Ticonderoga.
He also gave his time as a volunteer for Fort Ticonderoga, which owns Mount Defiance.
Mr. Morette was known as the “Keeper of Mount Defiance,” opening and closing the road to the historic site for the last decade. He also maintained public-safety radios housed in transmitter huts at the top of the mountain.
Mr. Morette had been planning to create his Veterans Christmas Tree on Mount Defiance again this year. Using volunteers, he had strung lengths of colored lights from the flagpole at the top, creating a tree effect that could be seen for miles.
“We’re still going to put the Veterans Tree up,” Ticonderoga Town Supervisor Robert C. Dedrick said. “But it will now be in honor of both the veterans and Tony Morette.”
Dedrick said he still can’t believe it happened.
“This is a terrible loss for our community. Tony was involved in so many things.”
He said Mr. Morette was a frequent visitor to his office, talking about projects he wanted to accomplish.
“We put lights on the Community Building Christmas tree, but some of the lights were burned out. Tony took all the lights out and put new lights in. He always wanted to help.”
Dedrick said Mr. Morette sometimes annoyed people with his directness, but everyone loved him.
“He was like a pebble in your shoe, at times, but you loved him regardless of it.”
COMMUNITY HELPER
Ticonderoga Town Clerk Tonya Thompson said Mr. Morette often donated his time and money to help the community.
“I don’t think people realize all the good Tony did.”
William Ball of Port Henry, a friend of Mr. Morette’s, had just spoken with him the night before his death.
“He was talking about the Veterans Tree and asking me to help with it. Tony was an enormous benefit to the community. He will be missed.”
Retired Ticonderoga Police Chief Jeffrey Cook said that as Mr. Morette jogged in the early morning hours, he often acted as eyes and ears for the Police Department.
“He helped us all the time. I can’t tell you how many fires and auto accidents Tony discovered while he was running.”
REFLECTIVE VEST
Quesnel said he often saw Mr. Morette running while he was on patrol.
“He had a reflective vest with LED lights. He had reflective pants. He was very safe, very cautious. In my mind, I believe he did everything right.”
He said the Shore Airport Road and Route 22 intersection is lighted by street lights, and visibility there is high. The State Police Accident Reconstruction Unit was at the intersection Wednesday afternoon performing a complete analysis of what happened.
An autopsy was performed Wednesday afternoon at Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake, but results were not immediately available.
Mr. Morette had served as assistant fire chief for Ticonderoga Volunteer Fire Department and as an Essex County fire investigator. He was a certified state electrical inspector.
Mr. Morette, also known as “A.T.,” was a lifelong resident of Ticonderoga. Besides his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Kristi, of New Jersey and a sister, Ann.
E-mail Lohr McKinstry at:
lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com
