Mother And Baby Die After Crash With Mini-Bus In Yaphank: Cops

YAPHANK, NY — An East Patchogue mom died and her one-year-old daughter died after a crash with a mini school bus on Long Island Express Drive South in Yaphank on Thursday morning, Suffolk police said.

A 2019 Nissan Sentra driven by Jacklyn Smolian, was traveling northbound on County Road 101 and collided with a mini-bus traveling eastbound on Express Drive South at 7:35 a.m., according to police.

Smolian, 31, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her daughter, Joelaya Smolian-Davenport, was in a car seat in the backseat of the car, and was taken to Long Island Community Hospital in Patchogue and later transferred to Stony Brook University Hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

The 73-year-old man from Medford who was driving the bus, and a 61-year-old Bellport woman, who was a matron on the bus, were taken to local hospitals for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. No children were on the bus.

Both vehicles were impounded for a safety check. Detectives are asking anyone with information on the crash to call the 6th Squad at 631-854-8652.

The roadway between exit 65 and 66 was closed until just about noon.