Long Island teen siblings fighting for their lives after car crash that killed their friend
Teenage siblings fight for their lives in hospital after a tragic car crash that killed one of their friends and another driver.
Bella Trezza, 17, was picking up her brother Austin, 18, and three of his friends from a party around 1 a.m. Saturday and was about to drop them off at home when the car they were riding in was struck by a Kia sedan in West Babylon, Long Island.
Riley Goot, 18, was killed in the crash, along with the 33-year-old driver of the other car, Michael Desmond.
According to police, Desmond had ignored the traffic light.
Bella Trezza, 17, and her 18-year-old brother Austin were driving with three friends around 1 a.m. Saturday morning in West Babylon, Long Island when their car was struck by a Kia sedan
Bella remains on a ventilator at Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip and is in critical condition.
According to a GoFundMe for the siblings, ‘Bella’s chances of survival are not bright.’
“Bella is on a ventilator after suffering a serious brain injury,” a family friend said.
“She lost her spleen, lost a tremendous amount of blood and broke more bones than the doctors cared to count.”
Bella’s injuries are described as ‘so devastating, especially since she knows she is a ray of sunshine in this world.’
Her brother Austin, along with 18-year-old Jack Murphy and 16-year-old Anthony Pagliuca, remain in the hospital with various injuries.
Austin is “stable” after “multiple surgeries… and has a long road ahead of him, with more surgeries and rehabilitation ahead.”
Bella remains on life support at Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip and is in critical condition
Austin has been a volunteer firefighter for the local department since 2023
Riley Goot, 18, died in the crash
According to a family friend, the car was “hit from the side and thrown into a pile of rubble.”
“Every parent’s nightmare.”
The duo’s parents, Jay and Kelly, have been watching over Bella and Austin since the tragedy, facing mounting medical bills and “the uncertainty of what the future holds” for their two children.
Jay shared several photos of Bella this week after the tragedy.
“My Bubbles. My Baby,” he wrote.
“Please, please, please, love you, my Bells.”
Jack Murphy is also still in the hospital after the crash. He is now ‘breathing on his own, responsive and trying to talk’
16-year-old Anthony Pagliuca is also in the hospital
Jay and Kelly have two other children and the whole family are described as ‘active and caring’ members of the local community.
Austin has been a volunteer firefighter for the local fire department since 2023, while Bella is a senior at St John the Baptist High School and dreams of one day becoming a nurse.
A separate GoFundMe has also been started for Riley’s family following his tragic death.
“We lost a wonderful young man, a ray of light, Riley Goot, only 18 years old, who just graduated last year.
“His family is devastated. Riley was a great big brother, friend, son, student and athlete.
“Everyone who knew Riley knew what a great guy he was, and he will be missed.”