'Organ Donor Hero': LI 9-Year-Old Killed In Crash Saves 3 Lives

STONY BROOK, NY — Angel Salas, the 9-year-old Long Island boy removed from a ventilator at Stony Brook Children's Hospital on Sunday, saved three people with his organ donations, a LiveOnNY spokesman said.

Salas was a passenger in a 2019 Toyota Corolla, driven by his father, Bruce Koch, 49, of Deer Park, on the Long Island Expressway in Medford when the sedan was rear-ended in the westbound lane by a 2018 BMW on Aug. 22, Suffolk police said.

Salas and Koch, who had minor injuries, were both taken to Stony Brook Medical Center's campus for treatment, according to police.

Salas was removed from the ventilator that was keeping him alive on Sunday and he was given an "honor walk," which is a special tribute in which all hospital employees line the hallway, as his body was wheeled into an operating room, LiveOnNY confirmed.

Three people between New York and Florida were saved by Salas' donation, said Leonard Achan, LiveOnNY president and CEO, in a statement.

"Angel Salas, a precious 9-year-old New Yorker who tragically lost his life after an alleged drunk driver hit the car he was in, became an organ donor hero after his family generously gave the gift of life," he said.

The recipients of Salas' organs are currently healing and no information is being released about them at this time, according to LiveOnNY.

In his statement, Achan said the organization "is humbled and honored to be the steward of these gifts on behalf of Angel and his family, so that others may live on."

"We extend our deepest condolences to Angel's family and friends," he said. "Our thoughts and prayers remain with them during this difficult time.”

The recipients of Salas' organs are currently healing and no information is being released about them at this time, according to LiveOnNY.

Patch was unable to reach Salas' mother, Juliana.

In an interview outside of Stony Brook Children's Hospital, a tearful Salas told News 12 that she "knew in her heart that God had sent us a very special boy."

She also told the outlet that drivers need to make “good choices.”

“We can only be responsible for our choices and even though we love our family, we love our children, we cannot control what other people do," she added.

Family friend Bri Silva created a GoFundMe to help defray funeral costs for Salas' family.

Koch was released from the hospital, but Salas suffered severe head trauma "and sadly did not make it," according to Silva's page.

"If you are able, please help by contributing any monetary amount, big or small to help support the family during this time," she wrote, adding, "Anything would genuinely be appreciated. Thank you."

So far, the page has raised $33,000 of its $35,000 goal.

The driver in the crash, Travis Dickson, 27, was also taken to Stony Brook, but with non-life-threatening injuries, said police, adding that he was charged with misdemeanor driving while intoxicated. He was expected to be arraigned after his release from the hospital, according to police.

Dickson was additionally charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, also a misdemeanor, according to online court records.

A spokeswoman for District Attorney Ray Tierney did not comment on whether his office was pursuing upgraded charges. She described the crash as part of an ongoing investigation.

Dickson was released on $200,000 bond, a spokesman for the county sheriff's office said.

His attorney, Michael Brown of Central Islip, did not respond to a request for comment.