TOWN OF SAUGERTIES – On October 14 minutes before 9 a.m., Ulster County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a two-car accident involving a school bus and dump truck.
The preliminary investigation determined that Janos Koka, 53, of Tannersville, was attempting to pull out onto Route 9W from Malden Turnpike in his 2020 Nissan Rogue.
A 2016 International dump truck, driven by Jeffrey Begreen, 35, of Saugerties, was traveling southbound on Route 9W when he swerved to avoid the Nissan Rogue in his lane of traffic.
When Begreen swerved to avoid contact with the Nissan, it put him in the path of an oncoming school bus, which he also swerved to avoid, causing the dump truck to strike a utility pole and overturn onto the driver’s side, investigators said.
The dump truck then slid down the roadway into the opposite lane of traffic, striking the First Student school bus traveling northbound, which was operated by Brenda Oster, 63, of Mount Marion.
Begreen suffered serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Oster sustained minor injuries.
Police said the investigation into the accident remains open.
Sheriff’s detectives were assisted by the State Police and their collision reconstruction unit, Town of Saugerties Police, Ulster District Attorney’s Office, Diaz Memorial Ambulance, Malden-West Camp and Saxton Fire departments.
