Tragic Crash: 2 Dead, 4 Injured After Reckless Driver Allegedly Runs Red Light
(Gofundme)
A devastating car accident in Suffolk County, New York, over the weekend, left two people dead and four others seriously injured. The tragic incident occurred on Saturday, September 21, when a 2017 Kia sedan, driven by 33-year-old Michael Desmond, allegedly ran a red light and collided with a vehicle carrying four teenagers.
According to News 12 Long Island, the crash took place around 1 a.m. on Great East Neck Road in West Babylon. Bella Trezza, 17, had picked up her 18-year-old brother Austin and two friends from a party and was driving them home when the collision occurred.
Desmond, the driver of the Kia, was pronounced dead at the scene. Riley Goot, a West Babylon High School graduate who was in the other vehicle, was rushed to Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip but tragically succumbed to his injuries, according to Newsday. The crash also left 18-year-old Jack Murphy and 16-year-old Anthony Pagliuca with serious injuries. Both were transported to local hospitals for treatment, where they are facing extensive recovery periods.
At a vigil held on Sunday, September 22, Goot’s sister urged the community to remember her brother’s spirit, saying, “I just want everyone to keep saying ‘Goot,’ his nickname everyone loved, to not give up on everyone else just because one was lost,” CBS News reported. A GoFundMe page set up in honor of Goot describes him as an “amazing young man, a ray of light.” His sudden loss has left the community heartbroken.
Bella Trezza, who was driving at the time of the accident, remains in critical condition. A GoFundMe page set up by her family describes her as a high school senior and aspiring nurse. Bella is currently on life support after suffering severe brain trauma and numerous injuries. The page reveals that she lost her spleen, suffered extensive blood loss, and sustained so many broken bones that doctors did not count them all.
“The outlook for survival for Bella is not bright,” the post reads, “which is so devastating, especially knowing the bright ray of sunshine she is in this world.” Her brother, Austin Trezza, a recent West Babylon High School graduate and member of the West Babylon Volunteer Fire Department, is stable after undergoing multiple surgeries, according to the family’s GoFundMe.
Anthony Pagliuca, 16, also faces a long road to recovery, with several surgeries ahead. A FundtheFirst page set up for Pagliuca notes that he will require extensive physical and mental rehabilitation. Jack Murphy, the fourth teen involved, has endured significant injuries as well.
According to a GoFundMe page created to assist with his medical expenses, he recently underwent a lengthy facial surgery to repair damage from the crash. As the community rallies around the families of the victims, they continue to mourn the lives lost while offering support to those still fighting for recovery.
