Family sues over teen skateboarder's death

The family of a teenager struck and killed by a car last month as he skateboarded in Syosset has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the driver, Oyster Bay Town and Nassau County, citing negligence in the maintenance of an "impassable" sidewalk that forced Oleksandr Safronov, 15, into the street.

Tetyana and Victor Safronov, who said the Nov. 6 slaying cut short the life they sought to improve after the family emigrated from Ukraine, filed the complaint earlier this month in State Supreme Court in Nassau County.

"He [Oleksandr] was the reason why we came here -- to make his life better," Victor Safronov said Tuesday, his voice breaking. "He was 3 years old when we came to the United States. Everything we did, we did to make his life better."

The Bethpage family includes a younger son, Maxim, 9. But the loss of his older son is "like someone cut out half of your life," Safronov said.

Oleksandr was riding his skateboard southbound on Oyster Bay Road near Parkfield Court North because the town and county allowed the sidewalk to "become and remain in a defective, uneven, broken, cracked and raised condition," the suit alleges.

The driver Edward J. Ignagni, 32, of Syosset, was not charged by police, who said they suspected no criminality.

A man reached by phone at Ignagni's home on Monday identified himself as Ignagni's father and said their attorney had instructed them not to comment on the lawsuit.

Oyster Bay Town officials Tuesday said they do not comment on ongoing litigation. Nassau County Attorney John Ciampoli said in a statement: "The county will not comment on outstanding ligation at this time."

The Safronov family is suing for unspecified monetary damages, including costs incurred for Oleksandr's medical care and funeral, arguing that his death easily could have been prevented.

"You can kill yourself just walking on the sidewalk," Victor Safronov said.

Safronov, a teacher and gymnastics coach, said he and other trainers limit athletes' injuries by routinely checking and maintaining gymnastics equipment -- preventive measures he said the town and county should have taken.

He described his son as an active student, aspiring engineer and helping hand around the house. Oleksandr was a sophomore at Bethpage High School.