A 16-year-old North Blenheim boy and 12-year-old Gilboa girl were killed when their ATV was struck Wednesday afternoon by a commercial dump truck on Route 30.
The accident occurred just after 12:30 p.m. about a mile north of where Route 30 intersects with Route 990V. The youths were attempting to cross Route 30 to get to where the girl lived and rode right into the path of a dump truck carrying large rocks from the Carver Sand and Gravel Co., according to Schoharie County Sheriff Anthony Desmond.
“The truck was so close to them that he wasn’t able to stop,” he said.
Jeffrey Jones and Brittany Paes were given first aid at the scene and taken to Margaretville Hospital in Delaware County, where they were pronounced dead. Desmond said Jones was wearing a helmet, but Paes was not.
A mile-long stretch of Route 30 was shut down for more than eight hours while sheriff’s deputies and a state police accident reconstruction team investigated the crash. Emergency personnel from the Grand Gorge, Roxbury, Conesville fire departments also responded.
Deputies are waiting for the report to be completed before making any decision on charges, Desmond said. However, the cause appears to be accidental. Alcohol, drugs or speed do not appear to be factors in the accident.
Desmond said there are usually two or three ATV accidents every year involving people who have tipped over while riding, but nothing like this.
Tuesday marked the final regular day of classes in the Gilboa-Conesville Central School District, and Regents exams began Wednesday. The district canceled its Board of Education meeting scheduled for Wednesday evening, as well as its kindergarten screening and participation in the Flag Day Parade, both scheduled for today.
“On behalf of the Gilboa-Conesville Central School Community, we express our condolences to the families, the students and all affected community members,” Superintendent Ruth Reeve said in a statement. “As always, we will stay together as a family. Grief counseling will be available during school hours for students, staff and community members on Thursday and Friday.”
She declined further comment until the district has all the facts.
Categories: Schenectady County
