Community Rallies Around Teens Fighting For Life After Gruesome Crash

BEDFORD, NY — The Bedford community is rushing to support the Fox Lane High School students who were critically injured when the car they were in crashed head-on with a school bus.

Three of the teens in the car sustained life-threatening injuries.

16-year-old Erick Fuentes is on a ventilator. He suffered a broken neck, fractured spine, broken leg, and half of his skull was taken out because of a hematoma.

17-year-old Jonathan Martinez suffered a cardiac arrest at the accident scene, but paramedics performed CPR and were able to resuscitate him.

16-year-old Axel Cantor remains in a critical state. He is on a ventilator, has a brain hemorrhage, collapsed lungs, a liver hemorrhage, and two broken legs, according to his family.

Family members have started GoFundMe campaigns to help with the teens' long roads ahead.

16-year-old Erick Fuentes fighting for life

"Erick was someone who always had a smile on his face no matter what," Fuentes' older sister, Stefanie Fuentes writes. "Erick loved to be around his friends all the time. Erick has always been a big family guy and loves to joke around with all of us. This is devasting but all we have left is to have faith that he will make it out alive. All the funds will be going directly to all of Erick’s medical bills so then stress is being taken from my father. All we ask is for time and space."

16-year-old boy fighting for his life

"Axel was studying to become an auto body tech at BOCES," family members said. "He has been into cars for a couple of years now, and has even attended local car shows and meets. Not only is he a full time student, but he also works at Jumpz/Sky Zone in Mount Kisco ... Axel is always seen with a big smile on his face. He spends his free time studying, playing with his PlayStation, eating, playing soccer or basketball, and going to the gym. Whatever he was doing, he was usually with his cousins or friends. "

17-year-old boy fighting for his life

"He is always the go to friend that the rest of the boys would come to and spend time at our house," Martinez's older sister writes. "They all have been friends since kids. He is only a Junior in High School. He is also a hard worker at Skyzone/Rockin Jump. He always has a big smile on his face and cracking up jokes and making anyone laugh when he can ... My family is having a hard time just trying to process everything that is going on with him and his other friends who are also in critical care as him."

On Wednesday, just before 2:15 p.m., New Castle police arrived at Lake Road, in response to the head-on crash involving a Yorktown Central School District bus and a 2016 Honda Accord with four people inside.

An unlicensed teen driver from Bedford Hills was behind the wheel of the Honda Accord, police said. He and three passengers were traveling southbound on Lake Road when the vehicle lost control while rounding a curve, crossed into oncoming traffic and struck the bus head-on, according to investigators' initial findings.

In all, nine were treated at the scene, but no life-threatening injuries were reported among those on the school bus.

Lake Road, near the Mount Kisco border, remained closed for several hours as first responders extinguished flames, worked to extract the victims from the Honda and treated the injured, and while police began to investigate the crash.

"Our hearts go out to our entire community at this challenging time," Bedford Central School District Superintendent Robert Glass told families. "Counselors and clinicians are available for students and staff at any of our buildings who are in need of support."