Star Athlete Dies After Long Island Crash

SHOREHAM, NY — Hearts were broken far and wide on Long Island as word spread Saturday that Melissa Marchese, a star athlete and senior at Shoreham Wading River High School, died after a horrific crash Thursday night, according to school district officials.

"The Shoreham-Wading River School District community is devastated to learn of the tragic loss of one of our students who was involved in a motor vehicle accident Thursday night," a post on the Shoreham Wading River Central School District's Facebook page said. "Please know we will be here to support our students through this very difficult time."

A GoFundMe page, "Our Girl, Melissa Marchese," was initially set up to help defray costs after she was hospitalized following the crash, but an update said that tragically, the high school senior had died.

"With a heavy heart, deep sorrow and tremendous regret I write to inform you that Melissa Marchese has gone to be with the Lord," the page said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Melissa and the Marchese family. Thank you all for your generous donations during this time of unthinkable sadness and utter despair. God Bless."

Three other people suffered non-life threatening injuries in Thursday's crash, which, according to Suffolk County Police, took place at 6:50 p.m. on Route 25A near Miller Avenue and the Shoreham Plaza shopping center.

Evan Flannery, 17, of Shoreham, was driving a 2007 Hyundai Elantra south on Miller Avenue and was turning left into Route 25A when his car was struck by a 2006 Honda Accord, being driven west on Route 25A by Michael Troiano, 34, of Ridge.

Marchese, 18, of Shoreham, was a passenger in the Hyundai; she was airlifted by a Suffolk County Police helicopter to Stony Brook University Hospital with serious injuries and later died, officials said.

Flannery and another passenger in the Hyundai, Caroline Tyburski, 18, of Shoreham, as well as Troiano were treated for non-life threatening injuries.

According to Newsday, the students were on their way to the high school for a ceremony honoring seniors.

Marchese has been lauded recently for her academic and athletic achievements. In March, the Shoreham Wading River High School winter varsity sports teams were feted at a Board of Education meeting with Marchese honored as an All League member of the girls basketball scholar-athlete team.

Recently, she committed to college sports, signing on to play softball at the University of Hartford; she was also recognized at a June BOE meeting as a New York State Scholar Athlete on the all-division girls softball team.

Friends turned to social media to express their pain and sorrow at the loss of a bright light. "I have been sitting here for hours trying to think of the right words but there are no words that I can say to make any of this better," one wrote.

"May Melissa rest peacefully in God's hands," another said.

To donate to the GoFundMe, click here.

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