Oswego County, N.Y. — The deaths of two teens in a freak accident has hit two small Oswego County communities hard, with friends, family and strangers gathering for a vigil, raising money for funerals and taking time to remember the two who died.
Matthew Bice, 17, of Albion, was remembered by friends and a coach as a “gentle giant,” an easy-going and supportive hockey teammate who hardly got in trouble. He had just graduated from the Pulaski school district.
Madysen Young, 17, of Sandy Creek, was remembered for always having a big smile and being a versatile horse rider and competitor. She was entering her senior year at Sandy Creek High School.
On a stormy night Wednesday, Madysen was driving a pickup with Matthew and two other teens as passengers down County Route 17, a dark two-lane road that crosses the town of Redfield. A storm had rolled through about an hour earlier, downing trees and wires.
Madysen’s pickup hit a tree that had come down in the road and the truck ended up in a ditch, Oswego County Sheriff Don Hilton said.
Unharmed, Madysen, Matthew and two others got out of the pickup to assess the damage. Near the front of the pickup, Madysen stepped on live powerlines that were tangled in the fallen tree and was electrocuted, the sheriff said.
Matt, either not knowing what happened or attempting to help Madysen, followed and was electrocuted when he came in contact with the powerlines, Hilton said.
The powerlines were tangled in the branches of the downed tree and scattered across the road, he said.
The two other passengers – 16-year-old boys – by some luck or smarts avoided the powerlines themselves, the sheriff said. They had to walk down the road to try to find help. A passerby stopped and called 911.
Sheriff deputies, firefighters and ambulance crews were notified about the crash at about 10:45 p.m.
National Grid crews took around 30 minutes after the crash was reported to reach the scene, according to Oswego County 911 Center dispatches. The crew had to turn the electricity off from a power station in Sandy Creek, Hilton said.
First responders could then reach the two teens, who were declared dead at the scene.
Matthew Bice played hockey wearing the number 55.
Casey Wilson graduated with Matthew from the Pulaski school district in June. Matthew was a hockey teammate and a good friend, he said.
But their friendship had a rocky start. “He stole my tricycle,” Wilson recalled.
As early as kindergarten, Matthew, who was described by his coach and Wilson as a “gentle giant,” stood larger than most of his peers. He grew to be about 6 feet 5 inches, a friend said.
It wouldn’t take long before Wilson and Matthew patched things up and later become hockey teammates. They played at the Salmon River Ice Hockey Association, a youth hockey organization in Pulaski.
That’s when the association’s president and Matthew’s coach, Steven Olson, first met him. He recalled the young boy “barely was able to keep himself up on skates.”
Matthew played for Salmon River for more than 10 years and was ready to sign up for another season this fall, Olson said. He was polite, courteous and his coach said he never heard about him getting into fights or arguments.
Matthew played as No. 55 for Salmon River. In the days following his death, dozens of people changed their Facebook profile photos to an image of the number 55 with two crossed hockey sticks in honor of Matt.
A friend of the family who watched Matthew grow up said he was always a sweet kid who rocked “the best mullet”, a popular hairstyle among hockey players.
On Thursday, a vigil for Matthew was held outside the association’s rink. Olson estimated about 120 of Matt’s family, friends and hockey teammates came to celebrate his memory.
People at the vigil shared stories and held a moment of silence before releasing balloons and lanterns. Matt’s friends, knowing he was a truck enthusiast, revved their pickup’s engines as the balloons and lanterns were released.
At the vigil, a Little League football team is shown in photos taking a knee out of respect for Matthew and Madysen, later shaking hands with the hockey team.
Madysen Young rides RumChata, a horse she helped train at CC Stables. (Courtesy Patty Sterling-Chilson)
Patty Sterling-Chilson remembers Madysen’s big smile and contagious laugh. She owns a stable where Madysen trained horses.
“Madysen was a fantastic young lady with lots of life and a love of horses,” Sterling-Chilson said in an email to Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard.
“We here at CC Stables have watched her ride, train and compete on so many different horses at so many levels,” she said.
Madysen and Sterling-Chilson worked together to train RumChata, one of the horses Madysen rode.
“Madysen was always on the go…whether with her mom and sisters or friends,” she said. “Going to competitions or on vacations or hanging with close friends.”
She was a vibrant person always there with a big smile and her laugh was contagious, Sterling-Chilson said.
Madysen competed at midland barrels, according to a post by a barrel racing organization’s Facebook account. Barrel racing is a rodeo event. The horse and rider attempt to run a pattern around barrels in the fastest time.
“We are devastated and heartbroken over the loss of one of our very own midland family members,” the post said. “Such a beautiful young cowgirl taken far too soon. We are so grateful to have met Madysen and for all of the memories she made with us over the years.”
In the days following the accident, the Oswego County communities have rallied to show their love and support for the families of the two teens.
Dozens of people and organizations have made posts on social media offering their condolences and sharing memories of Madysen and Matthew.
Several people have shared fundraisers to aid the two families during this difficult time.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with their family members during this difficult time,” Tom Jennings, superintendent of the Pulaski school district, said in a notice to the community. “We also offer condolences to all Pulaski and Sandy Creek students and staff as we try to process this unthinkable loss.”
Editor’s note: Syracuse.com staff writer Anne Hayes contributed to this report.
Staff writers Fernando Alba and Darian Stevenson cover breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, question or comment? You can reach Alba at 315-690-6950, at falba@syracuse.com, or on Twitter at @byfernandoalba. You can reach Stevenson at dstevenson@syracuse.com