Police ID 2 Kingston HS Students Killed In Multi-Vehicle Crash

SHANDAKEN, NY — Two Kingston High School students were killed and one was hospitalized after a multi-vehicle crash Monday morning on State Route 28 in the town of Shandaken.

The New York State Police said the crash involved three passenger cars and a tractor-trailer. It happened just before 9 a.m. Monday.

The preliminary investigation found that a Volvo tractor-trailer, driven by Ramon LunaLuna, 54, of the Bronx, was traveling east when he saw a Honda stopped on the roadway waiting to turn north onto Route 212.

Police said the tractor-trailer struck the Honda in the rear then crossed over the double yellow line in the westbound lane striking a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe head-on, causing the tractor-trailer to roll over.

A fourth vehicle, a 2018 Audi SQ5, that was traveling west then struck the tractor-trailer.

All three occupants of the Hyundai were juniors at Kingston High School.

Police said Dillon Gokey, 16, of Kingston, and Jack Noble, 17, of Port Ewen, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Joseph Sepesi, 17, of Port Ewen, was flown to Westchester Medical Center with serious injuries that are not considered life-threatening.

LunaLuna was taken to Kingston Hospital for evaluation. The operator of the Audi was not injured.

Police said the investigation is ongoing.

In a message on the Kingston City School District website, School Superintendent Paul Padalino said the district recognizes that events such as this can evoke a range of emotions and may be challenging for the students, staff and families to navigate.

“The KCSD Critical Incident Stress Management Team — made up of social workers, psychologists, nurses, counselors and safety personnel trained to help students, staff and families in traumatic times — has been deployed,” he said.

The team will be available in all buildings until further notice, and those who need to can access these resources by calling Kingston High School Principal Rachael Scorca at 845-943-3701.

“We encourage families to talk openly with their children about their feelings and reassure them that it’s okay to seek help if needed,” Padalino said.

He also said that parents should be mindful of any signs of distress or changes in behavior that their children may exhibit and reach out to school counselors or administration for assistance.