News
2 Kingston High School students Jack Noble and Dillon Gokey killed in a crash on state Route 28 in Shandaken
Another student being hospitalized.
Update: On Tuesday, state police reported that two juniors from Kingston High School lost their lives in a collision involving three passenger cars and a tractor-trailer on state Route 28 at the intersection of state Route 212. Another student sustained injuries.
The incident occurred around 8:56 a.m. on Monday, January 8. A Volvo tractor-trailer, driven by Ramon LunaLuna, 54, of the Bronx, was heading east when he observed a Honda stopped on the roadway, waiting to turn north onto Route 212.
According to the police, the tractor-trailer struck the Honda from behind, crossed over the double yellow line into the westbound lane, and collided head-on with a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe.
The impact caused the tractor-trailer to overturn. A 2018 Audi SQ5, traveling west, subsequently struck the overturned tractor-trailer. Kingston High School students Jack Noble, 17, of Port Ewen (the driver of the Hyundai), and passenger Dillon Gokey, 16, of Kingston, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Another student, Joseph Sepesi, 17, of Port Ewen, was airlifted to Westchester Medical Center with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, as per the police. LunaLuna was taken to HealthAlliance Hospital for evaluation, and the driver of the Audi was unharmed.
Original Report:
In an early Monday incident, two students from Kingston High School lost their lives in a crash on state Route 28 around 8:07 a.m., as reported by school authorities.
The identities of the students have not been disclosed.
State police have confirmed that they are actively investigating a serious crash in Shandaken.
In a statement, Superintendent Paul Padalino expressed, “It is with a heavy heart that we reach out to inform you of a devastating automobile accident that occurred earlier today in Mt. Tremper, resulting in the loss of two Kingston High School students with another student being hospitalized.
Our hearts ache as we process this tragic news, and our love and support go out to all those affected by this unimaginable loss.”
Padalino added, “We understand that incidents like these can elicit a spectrum of emotions and may pose particular challenges for our students, staff, and families.
The high school’s Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team, comprised of social workers, psychologists, nurses, counselors, and safety personnel, who are trained to assist individuals during traumatic times, has been activated.
The team will be present throughout the day in all buildings until further notice. Those seeking support can utilize these resources by reaching out to Kingston High School Principal Rachael Scorca at (845) 943-3701.”
Padalino encouraged families to “engage in open conversations with their children about their emotions and reassure them that seeking help is perfectly acceptable.
Moreover, please remain attentive to any signs of distress or alterations in behavior that your child may manifest, and do not hesitate to contact our school counselors or administration for assistance.
As we navigate through this challenging period, let us unite as a community to offer support and convey our deepest sympathies to those affected by this tragedy,” he expressed. The crash resulted in road closures, affecting traffic.
The town of Shandaken announced on Facebook earlier in the day that the intersection of routes 28 and 212 in Mount Tremper was shut down due to a collision. Further details will be provided as they become available.
