Teen Killed in Crash at Mahopac High School

A 19-year-old from Mahopac died after the car he was driving left the roadway and slammed into Mahopac High School Friday. 

David Diachenko was behind the wheel of the 1990 BMW that smashed into the school's science wing at about 11:30 p.m. Friday. Police say no one else was involved in the crash, which left the building damaged. 

"The autopsy determined that his death was caused by blunt force trauma to the upper torso that caused severe internal bleeding," said Carmel Lt. Michael Cazzarri. "Police are awaiting the toxicology report and the completion of the accident re-construction analysis."

Carmel police officers, members of the Mahopac Falls Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance Corps, and a Transcare paramedic responded to the accident scene and gave medical attention to the driver. Putnam County Sheriff's deputies assisted, as did members of the department's accident reconstruction team.

School will be in session Monday, but three classrooms will be offline, Superintendent Thomas Manko said in an email to community members Saturday night.

The school will be open from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, for students and parents who have been affected by the tragedy. Counselors and clinicians will be there.

Fire officials told News12 that the victim "barreled down" Gleneida Boulevard gaining "so much momentum that he crashed" into the school. The school sits on Baldwin Place Road, which intersects with Gleneida, a steep hill.

"Please note that all precautions regarding the magnitude of this event have been taken regarding obligatory notification of the Department of Environmental Conservation," Manko said in the email. "Air monitoring has already begun and will continue thoughout the weekend. Security has been posted."

Police are continuing their investigation.