17-Year-Old Long Island College Student Killed In Crash
BRENTWOOD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A popular former Long Island high school basketball player was killed following a minor car crash.
Anil John, 17, had dreams of a career in computer science and had just started classes at Suffolk County Community College.
As CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff reported, John had hoped to start his own computer engineering company, but those aspirations were cut short on Tuesday morning.
Tuesday morning, police said John apparently pulled off the road after he was involved in a minor crash near the school's campus on Crooked Hill Road in Brentwood.
When John got out of his car, police said he was struck and killed by another vehicle.
The driver involved in the initial accident with John fled the scene, police said. The driver of the car that hit John, 81-year-old Thomas Stapleton, was taken to the hospital for observation, police said.
"We do hope police are able to track down who it was that caused the initial accident," Drew Biondo, Suffolk County Community College, said.
The accident scene is just south of the Sagtikos Parkway and the LIE, students said drivers frequently race to beat the light.
"It's pretty scary, you just gotta stay aware because there's a bunch of careless drivers out there that don't care for anyone, but getting where they want to go," Daniel Alazraki said.
John served as a counselor for the Building Bridge Day Camp.
"He will always be remembered by the smile that would light up a room, his compassion for children. He had such a bright future ahead, it's so hard to understand why he was called from us so soon," the camp staff said via Facebook.
John's former basketball coach at Islip High School was too distraught to be interviewed on Wednesday, and fellow students were struggling to make sense of his death.
"It always happens to the really good kids that didn't do anything wrong. It's really sad," Marquis Rolon said.
Staff and students at the college held a moment of silence to remember the freshman.
Grief counselors are available Wednesday at John's old high school where those who knew him best describe him as kind and loving, WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs reported.
So far, no charges have been filed. The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information about either crash is asked to contact Third Squad detectives at (631) 854-8352.