Police: Four Killed In Early-Morning Farmingdale Crash
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A crash in Farmingdale, Long Island left four people dead on Saturday morning.
As CBS 2's Steve Langford reported, a 2001 Nissan full of teenagers was traveling west on Conklin Street a couple of minutes after midnight, when the male driver crossed into the eastbound lanes and collided with a GMC Suburban being operated by a 53-year-old man, police said.
Police: Four Killed In Early Morning Farmingdale Crash
"I heard a large crash," said Jodi Norce, who lives right in front of the crash site. "I immediately grabbed my phone and I was calling 911, and I opened the shade and I saw two bodies."
Four of the five teens in the Nissan were killed in the crash, a fifth was in serious condition on Saturday morning, CBS 2 reported. Friends said the only survivor was Cody Talanian, 17, who was sitting in the passenger seat. He was hospitalized with a head injury, broken bones, and internal bleeding.
The identities of the teens who were killed had not been confirmed late Saturday.
The driver of the GMC and a female passenger were also in serious condition on Saturday.
Police: Four Killed In Early-Morning Farmingdale Crash
Video from the scene showed metal crushed and mangled so badly that it was almost hard to tell the debris belonged to cars.
Neighbors who spoke with WCBS 880's Sophia Hall described a horrific scene.
"I looked out my window first and then immediately was looking for a phone to call 911 and my wife was already calling 911. So I ran downstairs and came outside and then you saw two cars and there was two people laying on the sidewalk just, not moving," Chris Norce said.
At the scene later Saturday, family members and friends were numb with shock as they placing flowers and cards, and prayed. The public mourning continued into Saturday night, CBS 2's Cindy Hsu reported.
Patrick Sawicki was just one of many high school friends of the young victims. Four of
"This morning, I woke up to people calling me and telling me," Sawicki said.
"I mean, we all loved them; friends of ours," another classmate said.
Another friend, Jillian, told 1010 WINS' Gary Baumgarten she saw the victims just before they died.
"I just saw these kids yesterday in school, and just to hear this all of a sudden – it's like, really, just shocking. That's all I can say about it," she said.
Throughout Farmingdale, there were scenes of grief as families greeted mourners offering comfort. And more heartbreak was expected Monday when classes resume at Farmingdale High School.
The exact cause of the crash was still under investigation, but neighbors said the stretch of Conklin Street where the crash happened is a speedway.
Neighbors pointed to the curve in the road, and the number of cars obviously ignoring the 40 mph speed limit.
"At least every three months there's an accident here, at least every three months," a woman said.
Funerals for all the families and friends were expected to make for one unbearable week.
Family and friends are expected to hold a vigil for the victims at 8 p.m. Sunday at St. Kilian Roman Catholic Church, at 485 Conklin St. in Farmingdale.
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