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Teenager dies in car accident
  
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Staff report
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
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 authorities, at 11:12 p.m., 16-year-old Nicholas P. VanBenschoten was driving a 2001 Daewoo at 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. The car took the brunt of the impact 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.
By Tuesday evening AMC public relations officials reported that Beaulieu’s status had been upgraded to serious condition. AMC had no public information on Shaw’s condition, but police sources said they believe she has been released from the hospital.
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 counselors 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.”
Bethlehem School District officials said they have made counselors available to friends of VanBenschoten at his old school and send their sympathies to his family as well.
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 authorities, at 11:12 p.m., 16-year-old Nicholas P. VanBenschoten was driving a 2001 Daewoo at 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. The car took the brunt of the impact 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.
By Tuesday evening AMC public relations officials reported that Beaulieu’s status had been upgraded to serious condition. AMC had no public information on Shaw’s condition, but police sources said they believe she has been released from the hospital.
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 counselors 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.”
Bethlehem School District officials said they have made counselors available to friends of VanBenschoten at his old school and send their sympathies to his family as well.
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.
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of registerstar.com.
phl1m wrote on Sep 30, 2009 2:31 PM:
" Very sad indeed, but I agree...where are the parents? A traffic accident with a learners permit at 11PM at night and 2 children in the car with him on a school night? "
Zoril46 wrote on Sep 30, 2009 5:15 PM:
" I feel so bad that this has happened. My heart and prayers go out to Nicholas' family for their loss. My prayers also go out for the recovery of Allison and Jeff.
This tragedy could have been avoided. If the rules of having a permit had been followed this never would have happened. You would think that Nicholas' parents would have known better seeing that not less than two years ago they lost another son in a car accident similar to this one.
When will parents of teen drivers wake up to the reality that tragedy such as this can happen? "
This tragedy could have been avoided. If the rules of having a permit had been followed this never would have happened. You would think that Nicholas' parents would have known better seeing that not less than two years ago they lost another son in a car accident similar to this one.
When will parents of teen drivers wake up to the reality that tragedy such as this can happen? "
hotnsexy12349 wrote on Sep 30, 2009 6:19 PM:
" Nick Was a loved young man, he was my bestfriend, And just about my brother, i was his lil sister, i loved him more than ever! i miss him more than ever, everyone asked why was he out, well,no-one know's that, he is gone now, so those awsners can not be awsnered, but i asked him why he wasn't home at just 11 pm. and he told me that he loved me, and that he didn't wanna go back to his aunts. so, i can't awsner those questions. but i do have to say, he was a bright and amazing young man, and i am devistated about all of this. He will never be forgotten and alway's loveed.
Best of wishes to his Father And Mother, And older brother<3
Rest in Peace. Nicholas Paul Vanbenschoten september 18,1993- september 28, 2009.
Also his oldest brother, Billy Everetts. October 25th 2007.
<3Courtney Marie. "
Best of wishes to his Father And Mother, And older brother<3
Rest in Peace. Nicholas Paul Vanbenschoten september 18,1993- september 28, 2009.
Also his oldest brother, Billy Everetts. October 25th 2007.
<3Courtney Marie. "
GunshotGlamour wrote on Sep 30, 2009 6:28 PM:
" my heart goes out to the families and other friends of nick, to anyone who had the pleasure of knowing him will know that he didnt deserve this weither he was speeding or not. he IS a victim and im sick of hearing people blame this on him, 10 days worth of driving just isnt enough. im jus waiting for the funeral so i can ssay my last goodbye. nick you stole my <3 at hello and i could NEVER forget you!!! Lindzi "
blorr wrote on Sep 30, 2009 7:14 PM:
" How dare any of you pass judgement on Nick's family???? How many of you ever did things as a teenager that your parents didn't know what you were doing? The only difference is you lived to tell about it. How many of you have teenagers and think that you know where they are and what they are doing at all times??? Wake up. "
embarcon wrote on Sep 30, 2009 7:34 PM:
" Instead of passing judgement we should all keep Nick and his family along with allison and Jeff in our thoughts and prayers "
phl1m wrote on Sep 30, 2009 11:13 PM:
" You are right and I am sorry. To question the family was inappropriate. It is very sad that so many people who cared about him have to go through so much pain. I guess I was just looking for a reason why this happened and to find a way to avoid these types of tragedies from happening in the future. Again, please accept my apologies. "
hud12534 wrote on Oct 1, 2009 1:28 AM:
" His parents loved him dearly.
Never would they have approved of his actions.
Children make decisions without ever thinking about their actions or the possible results. This is a prime example of just that.
Nicks not the only child guilty of that, In fact if we all look back at our lives, I think we just may all be GUILTY at one time.
Some get away, some get caught and some don’t come home.
A parent is not supposed to lay their child to rest. For one mother this is her second, so please keep that in mind.
Your big bother will be waiting.
Till the day we all meet again.
Love You Cuz- "
Never would they have approved of his actions.
Children make decisions without ever thinking about their actions or the possible results. This is a prime example of just that.
Nicks not the only child guilty of that, In fact if we all look back at our lives, I think we just may all be GUILTY at one time.
Some get away, some get caught and some don’t come home.
A parent is not supposed to lay their child to rest. For one mother this is her second, so please keep that in mind.
Your big bother will be waiting.
Till the day we all meet again.
Love You Cuz- "
HollyRock wrote on Oct 1, 2009 9:22 AM:
" It seems this is a tragedy that continually repeats itself. Many young victims lose their life because of vehicular incidents. Many because they have a sense that 'that won't happen to me" and sadly it does happen. Should the teenagers have been home in bed because it was a school night? Yes. But it makes no difference. We were all young and the young make mistakes-no matter what their elders try to teach them. The thing about being young is making the mistakes and learning from them. These types of accidents will never stop. Teenagers will continue to make this mistake and it will cost their lives. Don't remember them for the last decision that they made in life, remember them for the right ones that they made, the people that they were, the friends that they made and the life that they were able to live. "
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YOCOTC wrote on Sep 30, 2009 6:54 AM: