Victoria Deverso, 17, was coming home when the vehicle she was riding in crashed head-on with another vehicle.
Victoria Deverso, 17, a junior at Liverpool High School, was killed in a crash Monday in Madison County. She was a passenger in the vehicle.Clay, NY - Liverpool High School junior Victoria Deverso decided to skip school Monday, and instead hang out at the beach with a friend.
Deverso, 17, and Chelsea Kuss, 18, spent part of the afternoon at Sylvan Beach, friends and school officials said.
On their way home, Kuss got into the driver's seat of Deverso's 2002 Chevy Trailblazer and sped past several vehicles on Route 31, Trooper Jack Keller said. About 2:50 p.m., Kuss was trying to re-enter the westbound lane of Route 31 in the Madison County town of Sullivan when she lost control of the SUV, state police said.
The SUV slammed into 38-year-old Peggy Blume's 2007 Dodge Caravan.
Blume had seen the SUV pass another vehicle in her lane, Keller said, so she pulled over onto the shoulder and stopped so she wouldn't get struck. Keller said Blume did everything right.
But the SUV struck her parked car so hard, Keller said, that the Caravan turned 180 degrees. Both of Blume's arms and legs were broken in the crash; she also had head injuries, Keller said. Blume was in serious condition today at Upstate University Hospital.
Kuss also was taken to Upstate University Hospital. She suffered a collapsed lung and other injuries, troopers said. She was in fair condition this afternoon.
Several people called 911 before the crash to report a vehicle speeding west on Route 31, Keller said.
"We know for sure speed was definitely a factor," he said, adding that everyone was wearing a seat belt.
The crash was so violent that state police could not tell until today who was driving the SUV.
State police are waiting for toxicology results from an autopsy, which was scheduled for today, Keller said. They're also still trying to figure out some details, including why Kuss was driving Deverso's SUV.
"We’re trying to figure out a time frame," Keller said. "If they were in Sylvan Beach, who was with them, what they were doing hours before the accident occurred? We’re still trying to piece together what happened prior to the accident."
At home and at school, Deverso's friends and family are grieving.
Counseling sites were set up today at both Liverpool High School and Nate Perry Elementary School. Deverso's younger brother, Anthony, is a fourth-grader at Nate Perry.
Students received group and individual counseling, said Maureen Patterson, assistant superintendent for school improvement.
Social workers helped and local pastors stopped in to offer their support, Patterson said. Counselors from other school districts also called to offer food, time and support, she said.
"Victoria was a very vivacious, happy-go-lucky girl and so the students really are feeling this," Patterson said. "It’s fresh to them. It’s the start of summer. It’s scary also. When they’re 16, 17-year-old students, they don’t know how to deal with it. And that’s what we’re trying to do, help them discuss their emotions."
Students have set up a Facebook page, "Victoria Deverso, R.I.P.," which had nearly 700 fans by 4:30 p.m. today.
"(Her friends) are trying to post photos and have some happy memories and work their way through the loss of a friend," Patterson said. "She was always happy, always smiling. She was a very nice girl. She was not involved in as many activities, but had many many friends. And that’s what we’re seeing pouring through our high school (counseling) office today. Our students were touched by her."
Liverpool School Superintendent Richard N. Johns said he was aware that Deverso skipped school and went to Sylvan Beach on Monday. Typically, Liverpool High School would call a students' home if he or she does not show up, Johns said. However, the superintendent declined to say whether the school had called Deverso's parents Monday.
“I would rather not get into that, thank you," Johns said. "This is one of those tragic situations where what happened happened, and I’m sure the family’s worst nightmare.”
Because of the accident, Johns said, Liverpool High School's annual Mock DWI presentation scheduled for Thursday has been postponed until 9:30 a.m. June 2.
"This is a horrible incidence," Johns said of the crash that killed Deverso. "One thing 15, 16, 17-year-old kids have a hard time with is mortality. They see shoot-em-ups and murders on TV and it’s surreal. They really don’t stop and consider that their actions could put them in jeopardy and it could ultimately cost them their life. And unfortunately this is one of those incidences where that brings that home to them."