Student Dies in Motorcycle Accident

A student died from injuries from a motorcycle accident last Wednesday on Williams Road at the intersection of Meadow Drive. According to a press release from the North Greenbush Police Dept, Jared A. Brenz, an automotive technologies major, had ran his motorcycle into the backend of a passenger car. The impact caused the vehicle to spin and threw Brenz and the motorcycle to the ground.

After hearing reports of the accident at around 4:30 p.m., North Greenbush emergency services arrived at the scene. Brenz was treated at the scene and sent to Albany Medical Center Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Brenz was 22. While investigators were still in the process of interviewing witnesses, they had deemed the accident to be caused by “reckless operation of the motorcycle,” according to the press release. “Another senseless death, 22 years old is much too early to die,” said North Greenbush Police Chief Rocco M. Fragomeni in a press release. “We can only hope that the reports of this tragedycause someone else to pause before they operate a vehicle in a reckless manner.”

On Thursday, College President Drew Matonak sent an out e-mail to all students and staff regarding the accident.
“Jared, a student in automotive technologies, was a wonderful young man who will be missed by his classmates,
friends, and the faculty,” said Matonak. “I extend my sincere condolences and sympathy to Jared’s family and friends, and take comfort in knowing that the entire Hudson Valley community joins me.” In the e-mail, Matonak said that Brenz, along with others in the college community who have died this year, will be remembered at the HVCC’s annual Memorial Service on April 2.

The Public Safety office sent an e-mail on Friday to remind students to drive safely and to obey all traffic laws.
The college offers counseling services to those who may need it at the Center for Counseling and Transfer in Campus Center Rm. 260, which is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The counselors are available by phone at (518) 629- 7320. Additional counseling and support is also available through the Campus Ministry in Campus Center Rm. 260. Chaplain Cylon George, who runs the ministry, is available Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m, and Tuesday through Thursday, from 8:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. George may also be reached by phone at (518) 629-7168.