Family, Friends Mourn Young Shelter Island Man Killed in Northampton Crash

SHELTER ISLAND, NY — As news spread on the North Fork Wednesday about the death of Christian Goody, 20, in a tragic crash in Northampton Tuesday night, broken-hearted friends and family remembered a young man who touched many lives.

Mary O'Brien of Greenport said Christian was her son Joseph's best friend. Christian, she said, "was like a son to me."

As the community struggled to make sense of the unthinkable, O'Brien remembered Goody for his kindness and loyalty.

"Christian, aka Goody, as we all called him, was the most caring, loving, fun young man and the kind of friend that my son Joe could call in a pinch for anything. Goody was there for him; he was even there for me, just the same," she said. "Joe refers to Christian's parents as his other mom and dad. Christian called me his other mom," she said.

Many of his friends on Facebook remembered Christian's big smile.

In order to help Christian's parents Lisa and Matt with funeral expenses, a GoFundMe, "In Loving Memory of Christian Goody," has been created. The page garnered $3,675 of its $15,000 goal in one hour on Wednesday.

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart," read a quote from Hellen Keller on the page. "On October 18, this world lost a truly incredible soul. Please help the family as they go through the most difficult of times," the page read.

Police identified the two young men killed in a Tuesday night crash in Northampton Wednesday morning, authorities said.

Zachary Powell, 20, of East Moriches, and Christian, who was a passenger in the car, were pronounced dead at the scene; Ashley Picozzi, 19, of Saint James, was airlifted in critical condition to Stony Brook Hospital, police said.

Southampton Town Police detectives are still investigating the accident; the crash took place when Powell, who was driving a 2004 two door Infinity southbound on County Road 51 south of Speonk-Riverhead Road, lost control of the vehicle and veered off the roadway and into a wooded area, police said.

Eastport and East Moriches Fire Department worked on extricating Picozzi, who remained in critical condition Wednesday, police said.

New York State Police, the Suffolk County Medical Examiner, and East Moriches, Flanders, and Westhampton Beach Ambulance personnel responded to the scene, police said.

The car was impounded to Southampton Town Police headquarters for a safety check, police said.

Anyone with additional information should call Southampton Town Detectives at 631-702-2230. All calls will be kept confidential.

Photo courtesy of GoFundMe.