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SUNY Cortland Student From Hudson Valley Killed In Two-Vehicle Crash

An 18-year-old college student from the Hudson Valley is dead after a two-vehicle crash in upstate New York last week.

Maleek Devin Smith, 18

Maleek Devin Smith, 18

Photo Credit: Contributed

Maleek Smith of Staatsburg in Dutchess County was driving east on Route 206 in Bainbridge when he crossed into the westbound lane, directly into the path of an SUV at about 6:25 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 13, state police said.

Smith, a student at SUNY Cortland, was transported from the scene by ambulance to Tri-Town Regional Hospital in Sidney and subsequently airlifted to UHS Wilson Hospital in Johnson City, where he was pronounced deceased due to accident-related trauma.

The SUV,  a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche, was being operated by 53-year-old Joseph Artuso of Syracuse. Artuso and his two passengers were transported to Tri-Town Regional Hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries and released.

The crash remains under investigation, according to state police.

Born in Poughkeepsie on Jan. 10, 1999, Maleek Devin Smith was the son of Kevin A. and Kerensa T. Patterson Smith.

Smith was a 2017 graduate of F.D. Roosevelt High School in Hyde Park, where he was on the football and track teams. He was studying criminal justice at SUNY Cortland, where he also played on the ultimate frisbee team at college.

He also enjoyed working as a part-time clerk at the Mobil across from Marist College in Poughkeepsie.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by his two sisters, Zenobia Smith and Renee Owens-Steventon and husband, Gareth; nieces and nephews, Savannah, Shelby, Coby, and Jessie; maternal great-grandmother, Betsy Rudner; maternal grandfather, Antolin Rodriguez; paternal grandfather, Audley Smith; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He is also survived by his girlfriend, Alexandra Mills of Greene, NY, also, a student at SUNY Cortland.

He was predeceased by his maternal grandmother, Cynthia Villa; paternal grandmother, Hope E. Gayle-Smith; and paternal step-grandmother, Zella Smith.

Calling hours will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 pm, Friday, Dec. 22nd at Sweet’s Funeral Home, Inc., on Route 9 in Hyde Park.

Funeral services will be at 10 am, Saturday, Dec. 23 at the funeral home.

Burial will follow in the family plot in Union Cemetery of Hyde Park.

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