Saturday Morning Car Crash Devastates Huntington

he Huntington School District community woke-up Saturday to the stunning news that Huntington High School Class of 2013 member Ray Vega and incoming senior Carmen Rivera-Gotay had lost their lives in an early morning car crash on Walt Whitman Road in Melville.

“This is simply an unthinkable tragedy that took the lives of two young people with promising futures way too soon,” Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky said. “Our thoughts, prayers and support go out to their families during this very difficult time.”

District officials announced that grief counselors will be available at Huntington High School on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (July 1-3) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2-4 p.m. “Those in need are strongly encouraged to come to the high school and take advantage of the support being provided by the district,” Mr. Polansky said.

Carmen Melissa Rivera-Gotay was born on December 11, 1995 in Bay Shore. She was popular around Huntington High School. Interested in music and art, the teenager set lofty goals for herself. She was working hard in school and had taken a job in the community to save money for college, where she was considering studying to be a psychologist.

As a freshman, Ms. Rivera-Gotay played in the school orchestra. “Carmen had a sweet disposition and was well-liked by many students,” said Lisa Leonardi, a Huntington High School music teacher and orchestra director. “I enjoyed having her as a student.”

Visitation for Ms. Rivera-Gotay will be held at M.A. Connell Funeral Home on New York Avenue in Huntington Station on Monday, July 1 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. A funeral will be held on Tuesday at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Massapequa Park with interment to follow at St. Raymond’s Cemetery in the Throggs Neck section of The Bronx.

Ray Vega was born December 17, 1994 in Huntington. He had been planning to attend classes at Suffolk Community College’s western campus in Brentwood for the fall semester. The teenager was intending to pursue pre-med/pre-law studies. A member of the Blue Devil winter and spring track and field teams, on which he threw the shot put and discus, he was loved by his close-knit teammates, who were devastated to learn of the tragic accident, according to Huntington head coach Ronald Wilson. Mr. Vega’s brother, Kevin, was a member of Huntington’s Class of 2012.

“Ray was a young man that was full of energy and fun, but most of all he had a heart full of love,” Mr. Wilson said. “One thing for certain, at every track meet you knew our throwers were going to be there with those blue and white cushion chairs and Ray Vega with the bag full of snacks and drinks. He gave and never asked for anything in return. If someone needed a ride to or from practice, Ray was there to help. He had a smile that stretched a mile long. A personality that was always cheerful. We will miss him. I know that God will see the family and the entire Huntington community through this very difficult tragedy. It hurts terribly, but we have to be there for one another. That’s the type of love Ray Vega would want us to have.”

Visitation for Mr. Vega will be held on Tuesday, July 2 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m., also at M.A. Connell Funeral Home. Interment will be in Puerto Rico.

The Huntington school community is numb from the loss of the two teenagers. Classmates of Mr. Vega and Ms. Rivera-Gotay are grief-stricken. A vigil was held late Saturday night at The Rock at the high school, where a large crowd turned out to support one another and remember their two classmates.

“Words will provide little solace following such an unthinkable loss, but I ask that you keep the families of both of these young people in your minds and hearts,” Mr. Polansky said in a ConnectED call that was made to district parents, faculty and staff members.