Two in critical condition after Albany Street accident
By
WKTV News
Story Created:
May 23, 2010 at 9:08 AM EST
Story Updated:
May 23, 2010 at 11:06 PM EST
UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Utica Police say five people were injured in a one car accident in East Utica. Two of those people are in critical condition. The vehicle crashed into a tree off Albany Street about 10:30pm Saturday night.
The accident occurred near the intersection of Albany Street and South Park Drive, not far from the Buckley Swimming Pool. Investigators have listed speed as being the contributing cause of the accident.
The operator of the vehicle was 17 year old Christopher Swider of Utica. The front passenger was 17 year old Stephanie Hawkins of Holland Patent. The rear passengers were 19 year old Justin Kotary of Holland Patent, 18 year old Michelle Behlin of Rome, and 19 year old Shane Pratt of Holland Patent. Both the driver and the front seat passenger have sustained serious head injuries and remain in critical condition.
A number of ambulances were called to the scene. Four of the five people in the car were transported to the hospital.
Neighbors say people were coming to look at the scene of the crash all day Sunday. Jerry Raspante lives across the street from where the accident happened. He was one of the first on the scene Saturday night. "I come out of my house and people are screaming call 911," Raspante says. "So I call 911...and when I come back out again, the street is full of people trying to help them."
Sunday night, friends and classmates of the driver of the car, Chris Swider, held a small candlelight vigil. They placed candles by the tree where the accident took place. They say they were in disbelief when the got news of the accident. "It's strange. I was just talking to him Friday," says Joe Harrison, a friend of Swider. "It's just a week before our prom. It's like, why now? Why him?"
Utica Police are still investigating the crash.
Stay with NEWSChannel 2 and WKTV.com for more information as it becomes available.
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