12-year-old killed in UTV rollover

MAPLECREST―A UTV accident on the mountaintop claimed the life of a 12-year-old and left three other young people with injuries.

It happened around 7:54 p.m. on Friday, July 31 in the area of 84 County Route 56 in Maplecrest.

According to the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, preliminary investigation revealed that the UTV was being operated on a private gravel driveway that serviced several homes. The UTV was occupied by four youths, ranging in age from 10 to 14.

None of them were wearing seatbelts or helmets, according to the sheriff’s office.

“The UTV appeared to have veered off the left side of the driveway striking a boulder, rolling the UTV onto its passenger side ejecting all four occupants,” the sheriff’s office reported.

A 12-year-old and a 10-year-old, who had been seated on the passenger side, were pinned underneath the overturned UTV. The sheriff’s office said a neighbor was able to pull the UTV off of the children by utilizing his truck.

Both the 12-year-old and 10-year-old were airlifted to Albany Medical Center where the 12-year-old was pronounced dead. The 10-year-old remains in critical condition, the sheriff’s office reported on Saturday morning.

The other two occupants―the 14-year-old driver and an 11-year-old passenger―sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene by EMS.

The sheriff’s office was assisted at the scene by the Hensonville Fire Department, Windham Fire Department, Ashland Ambulance, Windham Ambulance, Greene County Paramedics, LifeNet of New York, Windham Police Department, Greene County Emergency Services and the New York State Police. The investigation remains ongoing.