Parents Of 4 Women Killed In Limo Crash Hosting Fundraiser

CUTCHOGUE, NY — The devastated parents of four young women killed in a horrific Cutchogue limo crash in 2015 are organizing a fundraiser to help provide scholarships in their beautiful daughters' memories.

Paul Shulman, whose daughter Brittney was one of the four killed, said the first annual event, "Running 4 Our Angels," will be held on Sunday, April 8, at Smithtown West High School.

"The Lawzie Marigold Foundation is proud to sponsor the First Annual "Running 4 Our Angels" 5K Run/Walk to remember and honor the lives of Lauren Baruch, Amy Grabina, Brittney Shulman, and Stephanie Belli, whose lives were taken from us on July 18, 2015 in the Cutchogue limousine accident," the flyer for the event states. All proceeds will be distributed to the Lawzie Marigold Foundation, the Amy Rose Grabina Foundation, the Schulman family and the Belli family in the form of a scholarship of their choice.

To register online, click here.

According to Felicia Baruch on the website, The Lawzie Marigold Foundation was founded in April, 2016 as a not for profit organization in honor of "our daughter Lauren Rae Baruch, who was born May 20, 1991. Her life was tragically taken from us along with Stephanie Belli, Brittney Schulman and Amy Grabina in the Cutchogue limousine accident on July 18th, 2015."

On the morning of July 18, eight young women, including Baruch, Belli, Schulman, Grabina — and Olga Lipets, Alicia Arundel, Joelle DiMonte and Melissa Crai, who were seriously injured in the crash —"hired a limousine to spend a fun filled day on the North Fork of Long Island for wine tasting," Baruch wrote on the event's page. "As you know or may not know, only four young ladies made it home — Lauren, Amy, Brittney and Stephanie did not. They were taken from us in a horrific limousine crash."

Each of the four families has chosen to honor their daughter by giving yearly scholarships to worthy students.

"The Lawzie Marigold Foundation, the Amy Rose Grabina Foundation, the Stephanie Belli Whisperettes Scholarship and the Schulman family provide yearly scholarships to students from their alma maters. For the past two years I have wanted to sponsor an event in remembrance of our daughters, who have given so much in their short lifetime," Baruch wrote.

When asked why the families decided to organize the race, Shulman said, "Their lives matter." He added: "What this means to me, as well as to the families, is keeping our daughters' memories alive. The scholarships will go to deserving students so they can have school a little easier."

Last year, Shulman also led the "Lauren, Amy, Brittney, Stephanie," or LABS, petition. The parents organized "so no other family has to walk in our shoes," he said. LABS, he said, is a petition to "bring awareness and justice to the horrific event that occurred."

The crash took place at the intersection of County Road 48 and Depot Lane, "when the driver of a stretch limousine made a U-turn on a double lane road where no signal was indicated for oncoming traffic. As the driver made the U-turn, an oncoming driver with limited time to react, collided with the limousine, which ended in complete disarray," the petition states. "A day in which eight women decided to be safe and take what was supposed to be safe and reliable transportation, turned into the complete opposite. . . Eight women went to the wineries for a fun, exciting day, and only four came home . . . only to begin what will be the toughest journey of their lives."

Urging changes

The years since that dark day have been filled with pain and grief for the heartbroken families left behind.

"It is still a struggle to come to a decision on who is held responsible for this accident," the petition says. "Every single day, the families, friends, loved ones, and unrelated individuals are reminded of the accident and the details involving the loss of 4 beautiful women. This petition is to advocate not only for Lauren, Amy, Brittney, and Stephanie, but for anyone who considers limousines as a reliable transportation option."

The parents, with an eye toward preventing future tragedies, list a number of points they believe can save lives. To view that petition, click here.

And, they are unified in their cry for a green turning arrow at the traffic signal, despite the fact that Suffolk County has not yet installed one — and has said they have no present plans to do so.

Community cloaked in mourning

Faded photographs and flowers have, for years, marked the spot where the four young women died after their limo was T-boned in the horrific crash almost three years ago.

The North Fork community has long been cloaked in mourning since the crash, with many residents echoing similar thoughts about how the memories of the worst tragedy they've ever witnessed, continue to haunt.

The limousine, driven by Pino and owned by Ultimate Class Limousine, Inc., was transporting the young women touring local wineries on July 18, 2015, former Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said; at approximately 5:11 p.m, the limo, while making a U-turn at the intersection of Route 48 and Depot Lane in Cutchogue, was broadsided by a pickup truck driven by Steven Romeo.

Spota said the DA's office planned to appeal the decision of a judge to throw out the indictment and dismiss charges against Pino.

Romeo pleaded guilty to driving while impaired in April, 2017.

The photo is the last one taken of all eight women before the deadly limo crash took the lives of four; photo used courtesy of Paul Shulman.