Eyewitness gives details of fatal Calliccon accident

Motorist says speed was a factor

By FRITZ MAYER

CALLICOON, NY — He was driving the car that was described in other media accounts as “the slower moving vehicle.” Doug Knight, the Circulation Manager for The River Reporter, was a witness to the crash on Route 17B in Callicoon in the afternoon of Wednesday, November 29, that took the life of 16-year-old Scott Krantz of Jeffersonville, and sent his cousin and best friend 16-year-old Tyler Wagner to the hospital for observation.

Knight, whose car was packed with newspapers, said he was driving west about 40 m.p.h. on Route 17B toward Jeffersonville, just beyond where it parts from Route 52. Knight was passed on the left by a light blue sedan going about 50 m.p.h., and then a green Mustang passed his car. Knight said the Mustang, driven by Wagner, then attempted to pass the light blue sedan as both cars increased in speed. When the Mustang overtook the sedan and pulled back into the westbound lane, according to Knight, the driver over-steered and began to lose control of the car.

The road curved at that point and was banked by trees, and the actual crash took place out of Knight’s view.

According to police, the car slid more than 100 feet on the pavement, and flipped. Krantz, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle and then trapped under it when it landed. He died instantly.

Knight got out of his car and, by his account, Wagner was initially in shock, walking back on forth across the roadway, bleeding from his head. Knight was so shaken that he had trouble dialing his cell phone to call 911. But he eventually got through and reported the incident. Teens from the other vehicle also called for help.

Knight said he asked Wagner more than once if there was anyone else in the car. Suddenly Wagner shouted “My cousin’s in the car. My cousin’s in the car.”

Knight went to the car and saw that Krantz was deceased; there was nothing he could do for him.

Knight, Wagner and the teens from the blue sedan waited for rescue workers and police to arrive. Wagner was hospitalized for two days, and was released in time for Krantz’s funeral, which was held on Saturday, December 2.

Senior Investigator Michael Orrego of the New York State Police said investigators have not yet determined the rate of speed at which the car was traveling. He also said he does not know if there will be any charges filed in connection with the accident.