News
NEW: Teenager dies in auto accident; speed a factor
Just received learner’s permit 10 days ago
STOCKPORT — A Columbiaville teenager who just received his learner’s permit a mere 10 days ago died in an automobile accident in Stockport Monday evening.
According to the Columbia County Sheriff's Department, at 11:12 p.m., 16-year-old Nicholas P. VanBenschoten was driving a 2001 Daewoo a high rate of speed on Southers Road when he left the north shoulder of the roadway, struck a culvert and became airborne. The vehicle crashed into a large stone pillar located at the entrance of a residential driveway and the brunt of the impact was with the driver’s door.
Two rear-seat passengers, Allison Shaw of Balsam Road, Valatie and Jeff Beaulieu of county Route 25 Stuyvesant Falls, both 17, were wearing their seat belts. Shaw was transported to the Albany Medical Center by the Greenport Rescue Squad in stable condition and Beaulieu was airlifted to AMC and was reported to be in critical condition.
Sheriff’s Deputies Michael Stelling and Jeffrey Hofstetter responded to the accident scene, as did the Stockport Fire Company and the Sheriff's Office Incident Scene Investigation Unit.
All three teens were students at Ichabod Crane High School on Route 9 in Valatie. VanBenschoten had just returned to Ichabod a week and a half ago, school officials said, after two years as a student in the Bethlehem Central School District.
Ichabod administrators informed the students of the accident upon their arrival to school and councilors were made available to students throughout the day.
“The district is saddened by this tragic loss and offers its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Nicholas,” said Superintendent James Dexter. “We wish for the speedy recovery of the other two students involved, and will continue to provide assistance to our staff and students affected by this tragedy.”
Sheriff David Harrison said an autopsy is scheduled to be performed on VanBenschoten and the investigation is continuing by Sheriff's Investigators and Columbia County Coroner Angelo Nero.
According to the Columbia County Sheriff's Department, at 11:12 p.m., 16-year-old Nicholas P. VanBenschoten was driving a 2001 Daewoo a high rate of speed on Southers Road when he left the north shoulder of the roadway, struck a culvert and became airborne. The vehicle crashed into a large stone pillar located at the entrance of a residential driveway and the brunt of the impact was with the driver’s door.
Two rear-seat passengers, Allison Shaw of Balsam Road, Valatie and Jeff Beaulieu of county Route 25 Stuyvesant Falls, both 17, were wearing their seat belts. Shaw was transported to the Albany Medical Center by the Greenport Rescue Squad in stable condition and Beaulieu was airlifted to AMC and was reported to be in critical condition.
Sheriff’s Deputies Michael Stelling and Jeffrey Hofstetter responded to the accident scene, as did the Stockport Fire Company and the Sheriff's Office Incident Scene Investigation Unit.
All three teens were students at Ichabod Crane High School on Route 9 in Valatie. VanBenschoten had just returned to Ichabod a week and a half ago, school officials said, after two years as a student in the Bethlehem Central School District.
Ichabod administrators informed the students of the accident upon their arrival to school and councilors were made available to students throughout the day.
“The district is saddened by this tragic loss and offers its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Nicholas,” said Superintendent James Dexter. “We wish for the speedy recovery of the other two students involved, and will continue to provide assistance to our staff and students affected by this tragedy.”
Sheriff David Harrison said an autopsy is scheduled to be performed on VanBenschoten and the investigation is continuing by Sheriff's Investigators and Columbia County Coroner Angelo Nero.
Copyright © 2010 - The Register Star Online