1 teen killed, 1 on life support after LI crash
WEST BABYLON, Long Island (PIX11) – A crash in West Babylon quickly became “every parent’s worst nightmare” Saturday morning, killing one teenager and leaving another on life support.
Michael Desmond, 33, is accused of running a red light on Railroad Avenue before crashing into a car full of teenagers on Great East Neck Road just after 1 a.m. Saturday, according to the Suffolk County Police Department. Desmond was pronounced dead on the scene.
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The teenagers were coming home from a party before their car was hit and “thrown into a pile of destruction,” according to Gina DellaMonica Giacchetto, who organized a GoFundMe for the family of two of the teenagers.
One passenger, 18-year-old Riley Goot, was pronounced dead at an area hospital after the crash, police said.
The driver, 17-year-old Bella Trezza, is on life support with severe brain trauma, significant blood loss, and multiple broken bones, according to the GoFundMe.
“The outlook for survival for [her] is not bright, which is so devastating, especially knowing the bright ray of sunshine she is in this world,” wrote Giacchetto.
Her brother, a recent graduate of West Babylon High School and volunteer firefighter, had multiple surgeries, according to Giachetto.
Two other occupants in the teenagers’ car were rushed to area hospitals, one with serious injuries, police said.
The crash has shaken the local community and “turned countless lives upside down,” Giachetto said.
“While every call impacts our members, critical incidents like this add an extra level of emotional strain, especially when one of our own is involved,” the West Babylon Fire Department wrote in a statement. “Many of our responders are close friends, which only heightened the emotional burden.”
On Sunday, community members gathered at a candlelight vigil for the young victims.
“This is an important moment for us to come together as a community and show our support for one another during this difficult time,” said representatives of the West Babylon Volunteer Fire Department.
Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter from Los Angeles who has covered New York City since 2023. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here.
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