Wallkill Teen Drowns In High Falls

HIGH FALLS, NY — A Wallkill teenager drowned in High Falls Tuesday. The Ulster County Sheriff’s Office said the 17-year-old was identified as Christopher Palaez of Wallkill.

The sheriff’s office was called around 11:43 a.m. to the area of 18 Bruceville Rd. in the Town of Marbletown for a water emergency.

Deputies were told by people at the scene that Palaez had been underwater for several minutes. The deputies tried to locate him before the In-Water Rescue Team arrive.

Palaez was found and recovered about 40 minutes after the original 911 call.

He was taken to Health Alliance of the Hudson Valley, Broadway campus, but EMS and hospital medical personnel were unable to revive him.

Palaez was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The sheriff’s office was assisted at the scene by the New York State Police, the Ulster County Department of Emergency Services, Rosendale Police Department, Ulster Hose Fire Department Search and Rescue and the High Falls Fire Department.

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