Youth killed in Callicoon

By TOM KANE

CALLICOON, NY — Not one car but two struck George Quinn, 17, a sophomore at Sullivan West High School as he walked northbound along Route 97, one mile north of the hamlet of Callicoon near his home on Sunday evening, June 8.

The first car, driven by Dwayne L. Clark, 47, of Jeffersonville, going north, struck Quinn while Clark was legally passing another car. According to the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, Clark drifted over to the far side of the southbound lane, striking Quinn.

Clark, who has a driver’s permit but no license, was stopped at the scene along with the car he was passing when another car struck Quinn. The car was small, with light grey or silver coloring. Police are looking for the driver and anyone with any information should call the Sheriff’s office at 845/794-7100.

Clark, a laborer twice convicted of DUI, did not pass a sobriety test, which was administered by Detective Don Starner of the Sheriff’s Office. Clark was arrested for first degree vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated, a felony, and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Clark was arraigned and remains in Sullivan County Jail without bail. He was convicted of DUI in 1995 and 2003. Clark was placed on five years’ probation for the second offense, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

“We are asking the public for any help in this investigation and for the driver of the other vehicle to come forward,” Starner said.

The youth may have been skateboarding at the time of the accident, which occurred at 10:45 p.m. on Friday, June 6.

“It’s hard to be prepared for a tragedy like this,” said Dr. Kenneth Hilton, Superintendent of Sullivan West School District. “I couldn’t have been more impressed by how the school administration has handled this. Our emergency response team was very ready. They met early at 6:30 a.m. Monday with a plan that included counseling opportunities for the students, which was immediately utilized by many students.”

In recent years, the school has been plagued with the accidental deaths of students. In 2006, 16-year old Scott Krantz died in an automobile fatality and in 2003, Anastacia Martin, 17, died in Fremont Center in an automobile accident.