COLONIE — A 24-year-old Schenectady man was killed in a one-car crash on Central Avenue that occurred at around 7 a.m. on Christmas morning.
According to Lt. Robert Winn, the vehicle with four occupants was traveling east on Central Avenue just west of the Lisha Kill Reformed Church when it cross into the westbound lane and struck a utility pole.
The vehicle, a 2001 Audi S4, split in half, and three of the four occupants were ejected. One of the passengers, Lakhraj Premnauth was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver and the two other passengers, all from Schenectady, were taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital with critical injuries. They were undergoing surgeries and their condition was not known.
The driver has been identified as 17-year-old Veeshram Ramdeo and his passengers were 17-year-old Kenny Jamuant and 21-year-old Sunita Hansraj.
The investigation is ongoing to determine if alcohol and/or drugs played a factor, Winn said, but as of 5 p.m. Christmas evening, it was determined a high rate of speed did contribute to the crash.
Central Avenue was closed between Lisha Kill Road and Lansing Road until about 4 p.m. while National Grid repaired the downed utility pole and police investigated.
Colonie police, the Colonie Police Department Drone Unit along with Colonie EMS, Stanford Heights Fire Department and Midway Fire Department responded.
Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to call Colonie police at 518-783-2754.
