College student dies following car accident

TUPPER LAKE — A SUNY Potsdam student died of injures he suffered in a car accident Tuesday afternoon while traveling home for Thanksgiving break.

Tyrell D. Spencer, 21, Uniondale, was a passenger in a car heading south at about 1 p.m. on Route 30 when it went off the road and overturned several times, a state police investigator said. Mr. Spencer, who was ejected from the car, died after being taken to Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, Vt., with head and chest injuries. He was sitting in the back seat when the accident occurred.

"We're uncertain at this time on whether he was wearing a seat belt," Investigator Daniel T. Howard said. "We're doing a thorough investigation."

The driver of the car, Erica A. Romaniello, 20, Selden, was taken to Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake with arm and neck injuries. She was taken later to Fletcher Allen for further treatment.

A second passenger, Jean Carroll, 18, Islip Terrace, also was taken to Adirondack Medical Center with head and neck injuries and later released, hospital officials said. Both are SUNY Potsdam students.

Investigators said they do not believe alcohol or drugs were factors in the accident, but were looking into speed as a possible cause.

"The roads and weather were fine at the time," Mr. Howard said.

Mr. Spencer, a junior, was a history major but was considering changing his focus to music business, college officials said. Ms. Romaniello is a sophomore studying education and Ms. Carroll is a freshman who hasn't declared a major.

SUNY Potsdam is planning a memorial service for Mr. Spencer and will offer grief counselors and other support services when students return from Thanksgiving break, said Carol M. Rourke, assistant to the president.

"Our community mourns the loss of one of our students and holds his family in our thoughts and prayers," the college said in a prepared statement. "We hope for healing for the other students in the accident as we reach out to help them and their families and friends."

College spokeswoman Deborah L. Dudley said that Ms. Romaniello is in fair condition and a SUNY Potsdam volleyball coach has traveled to Burlington to be with the injured player and her family.

"We're a small community, so one death impacts a lot of students," Ms. Dudley said. "We're going to do our best on the other side of break to help students deal with their loss."