Syracuse, N.Y. — The driver who hit and critically injured a woman out for her early morning walk is a Syracuse firefighter.

Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick confirmed that Ryan Lewis, 25, was the driver who hit Carol Olech Monday morning in Geddes. Lewis is a full-time Syracuse firefighter, Fitzpatrick confirmed.

Syracuse Fire Chief Michael Monds said Lewis was put on paid administrative leave this morning, pending the outcome of the investigation into the crash.

Lewis lives about two blocks from the scene of the accident. He was responding to a fire in Van Buren in his role as a volunteer with the Solvay Fire Department, according to Onondaga County Sheriff Toby Shelley.

When contacted by syracuse.com, Lewis declined to comment and referred questions to the Syracuse fire department.

Shelley said a woman was hit while crossing the intersection of South Terry and West Granger roads shortly after 5 a.m. Monday. She was later identified as Olech, 64.

Shelley said the driver, who he did not identify as Lewis, was in his personal pickup truck on his way to a fire in Van Buren.

Lewis is listed as a lieutenant in the Solvay Volunteer Fire Department.

He’s been with the Syracuse Fire Department since April 2023, according to city payroll records.

Shelley said Lewis could face charges. His office is investigating to see how fast Lewis was driving and whether he stopped at the stop sign before hitting Olech in the intersection.

The speed limit on the street is 30 mph. The intersection is a four-way stop.

Shelley said Lewis was not impaired by drugs or alcohol.

Olech, a lawyer and mother of three, suffered multiple traumatic injuries. She has been in a coma since the accident. No update on her condition was available this morning. Her skull is fractured in multiple places, her ankles are both broken, her femur is broken, her orbital bones are broken, and an artery and several major veins were also damaged.

She was hit close to her home on West Granger Road. Olech walks five miles nearly every morning.

Reporter Vince Gasparini contributed to this story.

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