Massena Wrestler Killed In Car Accident Tuesday

MASSENA - Grief counselors will be on hand at Massena Central High School starting today to help students deal with the loss of a fellow classmate.

Robert W. Rochefort, 17, of 43 Martin St., Massena, died late Tuesday afternoon in a one-car accident at the intersection of state Route 37 and East Orvis Street in Massena.

Superintendent Roger B. Clough II said he will be meeting with counselors, high school Principal Alan C. Oliver and Assistant Principal Patrick J. Farrand at 6:30 a.m. today, followed by a faculty meeting at 7 a.m.

"After that we'll have counselors available 24/7 to the wake and funeral and go from there," Mr. Clough said.

A grieving unit from Hospice and Palliative Care of the St. Lawrence Valley will also be available to talk with students, he said.

Mr. Clough said Mr. Rochefort, a wrestler on the school's varsity team, was a senior who would have graduated this year.

"I had him at Nightengale," said Mr. Clough, a former principal at Nightengale Elementary School. "I graduated with his parents. I knew him well."

He was officially informed of the death Tuesday night and said it would be difficult for everyone who knew Mr. Rochefort.

"You think of the parents, the family. It's devastating. I feel horrible for their loss and our student body's loss," Mr. Clough said.

Massena-based state police said Mr. Rochefort was westbound on state Route 37 shortly after 5 p.m. when his vehicle left the right side of the roadway and struck a utility pole on the driver's side. The accident took place at the intersection of state Route 37 and East Orvis Street.

St. Lawrence County Coroner Philip E. Brown responded to the accident scene.

A second male was a passenger in the vehicle, but troopers said they had no information to release about him Tuesday night. He was reportedly another member of the wrestling team. Troopers said Tuesday night they weren't releasing the passenger's name pending notification of his family members.

Troopers said the cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Massena Rescue and Massena Fire assisted at the accident scene.