Crash claims life of high school teacher/coach

Christopher Page, 27, a resident of the Ulster County hamlet of Wallkill, struck a pole Monday morning on Route 300.

TOWN OF NEWBURGH, N.Y. » An Ulster County man who worked as a high school English teacher and football coach died in a onecar crash New Year’s Day on state Route 300 in this Orange County town, authorities said Tuesday.

Christopher Page, 27, from the hamlet of Wallkill in the town of Shawangunk, was northbound in a 2015 Dodge Charger on Route 300, approaching Union Avenue, about 6:40 a.m. Monday when he “overshot a sweeping right-hand bend” and struck a utility pole, said town police Lt. James Nenni.

Page was declared dead at the scene by a member of the Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office, Nenni said.

Page taught English at James I. O’Neill High School in the Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery Central School District. Superintendent Frank Sheboy said the district lost “a member of the family” with the death of Page, who taught at O’Neill for four years and coached football there.

“He inspired everybody — students, staff, faculty — to achieve to ever-higher greater potential, and we are going to feel his loss for some time now,” the superintendent said. “He was an exceptional teacher; he was a caring individual, caring young man who was willing to do anything for his colleagues, students, always willing to pitch in and do something. If we needed a class covered or needed a coach, he would step up and do it.”

Nenni, the police lieutenant, said there were no passengers in Page’s vehicle and that police know of no witnesses to the accident.

Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any other information is asked to contact town of Newburgh police detectives at (845) 5641100.