Glens Falls, NY : Teen, 58-year-old killed in a head-on collision on Route 22 in Dresden on Friday afternoon, July 15, 2016

Two drivers died Friday afternoon in a head-on collision caused by a new driver, state police said.

Michael P. Rehm, 17, of Clemons, struck a car driven by Walton K. Smith, 58, of Putnam, police said.

Both drivers died instantly, according to state police. No one else was riding in either car.

It happened just north of Blue Goose Road on Route 22 in Dresden at 4:21 p.m. Friday. Rehm was driving southbound, navigating a curve. He drifted over the yellow lines and struck Smith’s car head-on, state police investigator Joe Bearor said.

Although an autopsy has been scheduled, Bearor said Rehm appeared to have just made a simple error in navigating the curve. He did not believe Rehm was driving under the influence, using his cellphone or otherwise breaking driving laws.

“He was 18 years old, new driver. Something distracted him,” Bearor said.

Both drivers were near home, he added, and appeared to be safety-conscious.

“They both had their seat belts on. Didn’t work,” he said.

Keith Redmond, athletic director and boys basketball coach at Whitehall, said Rehm was a well-liked student who was friendly with everybody. He was a member of the boys basketball team.

"Michael was such a popular kid in school ... this is just a devastation for everyone," Redmond said.

Whitehall Central School District Superintendent Patrick Dee posted a letter on the district's website Saturday expressing sympathy for Rehm's family and notifying the community and student body that mental health counselors will be made available this week at the high school to help them cope with the loss.

State police investigated the crash. The Washington County Sheriff's Office and Dresden firefighters assisted at the scene. That stretch of Route 22 was closed for hours Friday.

Source :
Police: Teen, 58-year-old killed in Dresden crash