Candlelight vigil held in West Babylon for teen killed in crash
The school superintendent says recent graduates were involved in the crash.
A candlelight vigil was held at Pape Field in West Babylon Sunday night for a teenager who died and four others seriously injured in a car crash Saturday.
A large crowd of family members, friends, students and members of the community held candles and prayed for the teenagers impacted by the tragic crash. They were surrounded by the West Babylon school colors, blue and gold, and balloons of the first letter of each of the teens’ names.
The school superintendent says recent graduates were involved in the crash. Police say 18-year-old Riley Goot, of Babylon, died, after the car he was riding in was hit by 33-year-old Michael Desmond.
They say Desmond, of Lindenhurst, was driving east on Railroad Avenue, when he failed to stop at a red light on Great East Neck Road. He died at the scene.
The rest of the people in the car with Goot were seriously hurt, according to police, including driver 17-year-old Bella Trezza, 18-year-old passengers Austin Trezza and Jack Murphy, all from Babylon, and a 16-year-old passenger from West Babylon.
"She’s a sweetheart, and she’s one of the nicest people I ever met. She brings joy to everyone’s day,” said Ryan Quinn, a West Babylon High School senior who is a friend of Bella Trezza.
"We’ve known each other, I’d say, since we were about five. We’ve all played baseball, football, some basketball. We’ve all just been around each other our whole lives," said Nick Harding, a St. Anthony's High School senior.
Family and friends of Bella and Austin Trezza have started an online fundraiser. Hope Floats Long Island Inc. also started an online fundraiser for Jack Murphy and his family.
