Two teens dead, four others injured in collision in Warwick
By Nathan Mayberg
WARWICK — Two Goshen High School students, Antonio Baglivo and Paul VanDoran, were killed when a tractor-trailer struck their car at the intersection of County Route 1A and County Route 41 in Warwick on Tuesday morning.
Three others in the car — including Claudia Krebs and Lucas O'Connor, both 16, te 60-year-old driving instructor and the 61-year-old driver of the tractor-trailer — were hospitalized.
O'Connor was at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla with life-threatening injuries.
Krebs, who was driving, is also at Westchester Medical Center, where she is listed in stable condition.
The Goshen School District released the names of the students on their website Tuesday afternoon.
Warwick Police Lt. Thomas Maslanka said the 2007 Malibu sedan the students were was owned by Decat Driving School of Middletown. According to the Goshen School District, the students were participating in the high school's summer driver education program.
They were struck by a 2006 Freightliner truck owned by Never Stop Transport in Port Jervis.
No tickets have been issued.
Accident reconstruction specialists from the New York State Police are assisting the Warwick Town Police.
The tractor-trailer struck the Decat car on the rear driver's side as the car made a left turn from Route 41 (Union Corners Road) onto County Route 1A at a busy four-way intersection in the hamlet of Edenville.
At the time of the accident, the instructor from Middletown and four student-drivers were in the vehicle. All of the young people — three boys and one girl — attended Goshen High School, and all were 16 years old, police said.
Both boys who died were rear passengers. One was declared dead at the scene. The other, transported from the scene by ambulance, was declared dead at St. Anthony's Hospital in Warwick.
Meanwhile, the 60-year-old male instructor, of Middletown, and the 61-year-old driver of the tractor-trailer, of Pennsylvania, were taken by ambulance to Orange Regional Medical Center in the Town of Wallkill for treatment.
None of their injuries were considered life threatening.
The tractor-trailer was not carrying cargo.
Maslanka said the investigation is ongoing and that he couldn't immediately speculate as to whether speed was a factor.
Orange County Emergency Services Commissioner Walter Koury confirmed that emergency personnel, including local ambulance companies and fire departments, were dispatched to the scene of the accident at 10:53 a.m.
The initial call for help stated possible entrapment in the vehicle, he said.
Maslanka confirmed that some of the passengers were extricated.
Dan Connor, Goshen superintendent of schools, posted a notice on the school website that grief counselors will be available for students and staff beginning noon on Wednesday, July 15, in the new gym at Goshen High School. He said the BOCES crisis team is available for additional support, and that grief services will be available to the community for as long as necessary.
Warning about intersectionThe accident occurred in the hamlet of Edenville. Several ambulance companies and local fire departments responded.
Alice McMechen, a Blooms Corners Road resident, witnessed the aftermath.
She has written letters to the county calling for a traffic stop light at the dangerous intersection after numerous accidents there, including some fatal ones.
On Route 1A, the speed limit is posted as 45 miles per hour.
Presently, there is only a flashing light at the intersection. One side flashes red — which means stop — and the other side flashes yellow — which means drive with caution.
"It's far too easy for people to be killed" at the intersection, McMechen said.
While the speed limit is posted between 35 to 45 miles per hour on two of the roads, those speeds are often exceeded, she said.
Warwick Supervisor Michael Sweeton said he has made numerous requests over the years to the county for a stoplight at the intersection.
Sweeton said that a decision was made under the previous county administration that a stop light wasn’t needed.
Sweeton said he was told by Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus that he will work to get the light changed.
“This case underscores how much it warrants it,” Sweeton said.
Maslanka, on behalf of the department, extended “our condolences to the family and friends of the victims.”
“It’s a tragedy,” he said.
Maslanka said there have been many accidents at the intersection over the years.
In his 28 years with the department, he estimated there has been “more than a handful” of fatal car accidents at the intersection.
“I’ve been at that intersection way too many times,” Maslanka said.
In a prepared statement issued regarding the crash, Neuhaus said ““In light of today’s tragedy, our hearts and minds go out to the families of the victims of the crash. Orange County is putting forward all of our resources to the community during this time, including our Mobile Mental Health Team. Our thoughts and prayers are also with the accident victims who remain hospitalized,” Neuhaus said.
In the statement, Neuhaus referred to the Orange County Mental Health Association HELPLINE (1-800-832-1200/845-346-HELP), which is available 24-hours a day. It provides crisis intervention, information and referrals seven days a week for all County residents. The Mobile Mental Health Team is also accessible 24 hours a day and can be reached at 1-888-750-2266.