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Updated 06/28/2012 07:40 PM

Deadly car accident in Stephentown

By: Lori Chung

The Rensselaer County Sheriff's office is investigating a deadly one car accident that happened in the Town of Stephentown early Thursday morning. Authorities say a passenger in the car died, but the driver left in a separate car before authorities arrived. Lori Chung has more.

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RENSSEALER COUNTY -- One person is killed in a car crash in the town of Stephentown.

The Rensselaer County Sheriff's office said they received a call just after midnight from someone who witnessed a car crash.

They said the witness told them one person, the driver, was still in the car. Deputies said the witness knew who the driver was and identified him as Brendon Hoffman, 20.

While the witness was helping Hoffman and before emergency crews arrived, officials said another vehicle pulled up and Hoffman got into their car and left the scene.

When crews arrived, the witness told sheriff's deputies the identity of the driver.

"When they went to the house to interview the occupants to determine where the driver might be, we found at this time there maybe another occupant in the vehicle. No one knew for sure at this time whether there was or not, the information was there could be and individual named Chris Baker may or may not be in the vehicle," said Jack Mahar, Rensselaer County Sheriff.

Crews went back to the scene but didn't find anyone and the sheriff said the investigation stopped around 2:00 am.

Around 5:00 am, deputies received a call from Hoffman's father who said Hoffman told him Baker was in the car with him at the time of the crash.

Crews went back to the scene and found Baker in some weeds more than 100 feet from the car. Deputies said the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed, failed to negotiate a turn and flipped over. They said Baker was ejected from the car.

Emergency crews examined Baker and determined he had died at the scene. Deputies learned Hoffman was taken to Berkshire Medical Center.

They said they are still trying to determine when and how he arrived at the hospital. He is being interviewed. No charges have been filed at this time.