Teen dies of injuries suffered in car crash

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December 29, 2009

By STEPHEN BARTLETT and DAN HEATH The Press Republican Tue Dec 29, 2009, 05:27 PM EST

MOOERS — A Mooers teenager died Monday night of injuries suffered in a car accident earlier in the day.

Morgin B. Baker, 17, of North Star Road was driving north on Route 22 in the Town of Beekmantown at about 3:07 p.m. when she lost control on snow-covered roads and slid across the center line, New York State Police said Tuesday.

Her 2008 Pontiac G6 collided with a 2000 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck driven by Barbara Ann Provost, 48, of West Chazy, who was headed south.

Baker suffered head trauma and an abdominal injury. She was transported to the Plattsburgh hospital by CVPH ambulance, but was pronounced dead at 8:30 p.m. while awaiting transport to Fletcher Allen Health Care, State Police said.

FAMILY INJURED

Her father, Rodney Baker, 45, and sister, Brittany Baker, 19, who were riding in the car, suffered minor injuries and were treated at CVPH and then released.

Provost was also transported to CVPH, where she was treated and released.

An autopsy performed Tuesday by Dr. Deonarayan Saha at CVPH determined Morgin’s cause of death to be blunt force trauma. Clinton County Coroner David Donah ruled her death accidental.

‘GREAT KID’

Morgin was a senior at Northeastern Clinton Central School, where she was a perennial honors student.

NCCS High School Principal Stephen Gratto heard about her death Tuesday morning and informed teachers through the phone tree.

“She was a great kid, and everybody liked her,” he said. “She was on the cheering squad.”

Sarah Hunter, who coached Morgin on the cheering squad, said the teen was an amazing person.

“She was an incredible cheerleader, and she was a great friend,” Hunter said as she choked back tears.

Morgin was a role model for the other members of the squad, she said.

“From the moment the season starts until it ends, she was 100 percent dedicated.”

Morgin was very intelligent and displayed a quick wit, Hunter said.

“She always came in with a smile. She was very popular with the other cheerleaders and the other students at the school.”

WORKED PART TIME

A memorial in the school lobby has flowers and places for students to write down their thoughts. Guidance counselors will be available for students when school is back in session next week.

Morgin was a nursing student at CV-TEC “and was very well regarded there,” Gratto said.

She also worked part time at Meadowbrook Nursing Home, where she helped take care of Gratto’s mother.

“She did a great job, and my mother thought she was wonderful,” Gratto said. “She had a good career as a nurse ahead of her.”

FATHER’S STRUGGLE

This is not the first trauma for the Baker family.

Back in September 2003, Mr. Baker underwent an operation in Boston for a brain aneurysm. He later suffered a paralyzing stroke, which caused disabilities that resulted in years of rehabilitation.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1418 in Champlain hosted a fundraiser to help the family with expenses related to Mr. Baker’s care.

— Contributing Writer Casey Ryan Vock added to this report.