An elderly Christmas caroler was killed and his girlfriend was injured while crossing the street on their way to a nursing home in Middletown Tuesday.

Stanley Domfort and Marie Shea, both 78 years old, were hit by a car at Prospect and Highland avenues shortly after leaving the Middletown Elks Lodge. They were carrying presents for the seniors living at St. Teresa's Nursing Home, where they were going to sing Christmas carols.

Middletown Police Chief Matthew Byrne says it was raining and dark at the time of the accident, and it probably could not have been prevented.

?It appears that they just didn't have enough time to make it across the street,? he says.

Domfort was pronounced dead several hours after the accident, and Shea was seriously hurt. Her colleagues at the Colonia Diner, where she works as a hostess, pray for her recovery.

?I hope she makes it,? says Shea?s co-worker Margaret Anderson. ?She's really a sweet person.?

According to police, the Ulster County driver who hit the couple was not speeding and has not been charged or ticketed for any offense.