Middletown High School senior killed, 3 injured in Wallkill crash
An 18-year-old from the Town of Wallkill was pronounced dead at the scene.
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The Middletown school community is mourning the loss of an 18-year-old high school senior who died in a car crash Monday.
The crash happened on Goshen Turnpike near Midland Lakes Road at approximately 6:09 p.m., according to Town of Wallkill police. Authorities say the teen drove off the road and collided into a telephone pole with three passengers in the vehicle.
Police say an 18-year-old Town of Wallkill resident and two Middletown residents, ages 18 and 20, were seriously injured.
They say two of the passengers remain in critical condition.
Middletown district Superintendent Amy Creeden said in a letter to the community that loved ones and friends are left in profound grief and shock.
“Words cannot truly express the depth of our sorrow at this moment. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of our forever scholar during this tough time,” said Creeden.
Support teams are in the school offering grief counseling to students, faculty and family. The tragedy marks the second time a district student has died within weeks.
Child psychologist Dr. Michelle Maidenberg says parents with students impacted by the losses can support their children at home by asking questions about their feelings and maintaining an open dialogue.
“There could be a mix of fear, grief and sadness,” says Maidenberg. “Start by asking what feeling are you feeling? What’s coming up for you? What support do you need? How can I be there for you?”
Maidenberg says parents should seek help if they notice a change in behavior or mood in a child experiencing a sudden loss, including a change in eating or sleeping habits or no longer finding joy in activities they normally find fun.
“Anything that looks like what, huh? You want to check their coping skills. How are they managing what they’re feeling,” says Maidenberg.
Families in need of assistance can contact the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) helpline at 800-950-6264 or by visiting www.nami.org. Help is also available through the New York state Office of Mental Health by dialing 311 or visiting www.omh.ny.gov.
