Bella Trezza, 17, of Babylon, dies from injuries in weekend crash

A 17-year-old Babylon girl has died after her car was struck by a driver who ran a red light early Saturday morning. She is the second of two teens killed as a result of the collision in which three other teens were seriously injured.

Bella Trezza was driving a 2025 Kia Seltos at about 1 a.m. Saturday when her car was struck by a 2017 Kia sedan that failed to stop at the intersection of Railroad Avenue and Great East Neck Road, police said.

St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School in West Islip announced the death of Trezza, who was a student there, on Thursday morning. She died Wednesday night, according to police.

"It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved senior, Bella Trezza," the school announced.

"The SJB Community remembers Bella as a bright ray of sunshine, and continues to pray for her brother ... Bella's family, and all those affected by the accident through this difficult time."

The driver of the sedan, Michael Desmond, 33, of Lindenhurst, and a passenger in the Seltos, Riley Goot, 18, of Babylon, both died in the crash.

St. John school officials were speaking with students Thursday morning about Bella and sending letters home to parents. They said counselors, clergy and support services will be available to students, staff and others.

"Bella was a beloved member of our school community, and her loss is deeply felt by all who knew her," school officials said in a letter to the community. The school will "provide opportunities for our school community to gather in prayer and to honor Bella’s life."

At St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Babylon, family and friends gathered Thursday at a funeral Mass to remember Riley.

Riley's coffin was blessed with holy water and covered in a white funeral pall shroud by his family and friends, who acted as pallbearers, each carrying the coffin with one hand over their hearts.

Monsignor Richard Figliozzi offered comfort to mourners and also prayers for others affected by the crash and Riley’s sudden death.

"I was informed before Mass this morning that Bella has passed away," Figliozzi said, adding prayers for the Trezza family.

Figliozzi noted the silence of the room awaiting the funeral. He said that pews of parishioners are usually filled with chatter before other church services such as a wedding.

"This morning we recognized this was a solemn time. We know our hearts are heavy and hurting and only silence shows solidarity and we try to be with one another," Figliozzi said. "Our hearts were silent and we didn’t speak before because each of us knows that words fail at a time like this. No matter how much we try to express ourselves, no words can ever express the sorrow or consolation to Riley’s family."

Riley’s family read from Scripture and his brother and sister provided offerings during the funeral Mass.

Figliozzi told mourners they could find comfort in Scripture and imagine Riley being welcomed into heaven with Jesus Christ. He pointed to Riley’s smiling face on the front of the funeral program, and his character of kindness and protection for his family.

"That smile draws you into everything you knew about his life. That smile also speaks of everything that occurred in his life that was important to him," Figliozzi said. "Think of that timeless smile and all they made his smile happen. Imagine his smile now."

He warned that as time goes on, the sense of loss can feel worse. 

"Everyone’s going to get back to their lives and time doesn’t heal any of this. Only faith can," Figliozzi said. "Time cannot heal. In fact, sometimes time makes it worse. But prayer tells us Riley’s life has not ended. It has changed and he gets to live in the presence of our Lord."

Mourners consoled one another and sobbed inside the church during the service. A single bagpiper played outside the church as his family watched Riley's coffin carried out.

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.