Peter Bonefant, Division I lacrosse commit from Smithtown, dies in Upstate head-on crash

Peter Bonefant, 19, was about to begin his Division I lacrosse career in North Carolina this fall

A 19-year-old Smithtown lacrosse standout who was set to begin his Division I career this fall was killed in upstate New York Sunday when his vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with another car, state police said.

Peter Bonefant, a Smithtown High School West graduate committed to play lacrosse at Queens University of Charlotte, was driving a 2024 Chevrolet west on Route 28 in Ulster County about 6:45 a.m. when, for reasons that remain under investigation, he crossed into the eastbound lane and struck a 2021 Mercedes-Benz head-on, police said.

Bonefant was extricated from his vehicle and was later pronounced dead at a Kingston hospital, police said. The other driver, Philip Jacobus, 72, of New York City, died at the same hospital.

The crash remains under investigation, according to authorities.

‘He made life brighter’

In the hours since Bonefant’s death, an outpouring of grief and support has spread through the Smithtown community.

A GoFundMe campaign started by Mike DiLo on behalf of Bonefant’s family had raised nearly $11,000 in less than 20 hours as of Tuesday morning, with more than 165 people contributing to help the family with funeral and memorial expenses.

The fundraiser describes Bonefant as someone whose personality and optimism would leave a lasting impression on the people around him.

“Peter was only 19 years old, but in his short life, he had already made the kind of impression on people that lasts forever,” the fundraiser says. “He had so much life ahead of him. There were still places he wanted to go, people he wanted to spend time with, dreams he had yet to pursue, and countless memories he should have had the opportunity to make.”

The GoFundMe page describes Bonefant, who played attack and midfield during his high school career at Smithtown West, as outgoing, positive and warm-hearted, someone who “could walk into a room and bring energy with him.”

“To the people who knew him best, he was not simply a friend, a son, a brother, or a loved one — he was someone who made life brighter just by being part of it,” the fundraiser says. “Those who knew Peter could count on him to bring encouragement, a smile, a joke, or simply a reminder that things could get better.”

The fundraiser notes Bonefant’s passion for cars.

“Cars were more than simply a way to get from one place to another for him,” the fundraiser says. “They represented excitement, freedom, passion, and the enjoyment of something he truly loved.”

The fundraiser closes with a call for the community to rally around his family.

“Although we cannot bring Peter back, we can come together to honor his life and support the people he left behind.”

The loss reverberated through the broader Smithtown community.

Bull Smith’s Tavern in Smithtown, where Bonefant worked, posted its own tribute, saying the business was “grateful that we had the opportunity to have Peter as part of our family.”

The tavern extended its condolences to Bonefant’s family and to the Smithtown community grieving the loss of the teen.

_{Top: courtesy of GoFundMe}