Newburgh Town Council Releases Statement About Sledding on Town Property

When the temperatures fall, most of us look forward to partaking in the activities that require snow: building snowmen, making snow angels, skiing, and sledding. But with the beautiful white powder also comes danger. I took my daughter sledding Saturday afternoon and though we were on our own property, there was still danger of hitting a tree at a high speed or sliding into the driveway at the wrong time. More than once I had to steer us away from a tree at a high speed.

In Newburgh, 16-year-old Davis Collier tragically lost her life  in a sledding accident this past weekend. One moment she and her friends didn't have a care in the world and the next, their futures would change forever.

Today, the Newburgh Town Council released a statement about the tragedy and sledding on town property.

The Newburgh Town Council and the Town staff are devastated over the tragic accident that took the life of young Davis Collier Saturday night.  Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends in this most difficult time.  Sledding at the Newburgh Lock and Dam has been a Newburgh tradition for decades.  But there is no higher priority of the Newburgh Town Council than the safety of the Town’s citizens and visitors.  The Council is investigating the circumstances of the accident and considering what action should be taken with regard to sledding at the park.  In the meantime and until further notice, the Council has ordered the closure of French Island Trail to traffic in the vicinity of the park.  The Town will also be strictly enforcing closure of the park each night at dark.  

We will keep you updated on any new developments.