A Waterford family is in mourning, after a teen was killed in a terrible car accident on Saturday, June 29.

Kiera Ebert, 14, was in the backseat of the white Dodge Charger that rolled over on Fonda Road around 8:45 p.m., her family said.

Her mother, Cherie Moss Ebert sent a statement:

“She will be missed greatly by so many. She was such a loving, kindhearted child. She was very outgoing and loved her family and friends so deeply. She would do whatever she could to help anyone. She loved her sports and hanging out with her siblings, nieces and nephews, and friends the most. She was known and loved by so many for her huge heart.”

Ebert’s older brother, 16, was also a passenger in the car. He is in Albany Medical Center recovering from his injuries and is expected to be OK.

Ebert was supposed to celebrate her birthday next month on August 5. She would have turned 15.

Between funeral costs and hospital bills, the family has set up a GoFundMe page with a goal of $6,000. The family wrote on the page, “The act of leaving your home and returning safely is an underrated blessing that many take for granted. On June 29th, Kiera Ebert – 14 years young, tragically lost her life. Her energy was continuous and she had a lot of life left to live.”

Not many details are being released about the cause of the accident because it’s still under investigation.
However, police say speeding was certainly a factor. The speed limit is 45 mph in the area of the crash.

The driver of the car is Everhett Hatlee, 18. He is facing a handful of charges including two counts of vehicular manslaughter, aggravated DWI with a child less than 16, operating a motor vehicle impaired by drugs, reckless driving, and more.

Court documents tell us Hatlee was smoking marijuana before the crash. It also states he smelled like marijuana; his eyes were foggy, he couldn’t talk properly, and he failed three of five roadside tests: a walk and turn, a balance test and the finger-to-nose test.

Hatlee was friends with both passengers, and all went to school together at the Lansingburgh Central School District.

Even though the school year ended last week, its crisis response team wants to address the impact it will have on the school community.

They are offering drop-in hours with counseling staff at Lansingburgh High School Tuesday for all students from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Virtual counseling was also available until 6 p.m. on Monday.