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

A Babylon teen who was driving the night of a crash with a vehicle that ran a red light has died, authorities said Thursday, the same day as funeral services for an 18-year-old passenger in her SUV.

Bella Trezza, 17, a student at St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School in West Islip, died Wednesday night, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.

The school announced Trezza's death.

"It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved senior, Bella Trezza," the school said in a letter sent Thursday to parents and families.

Trezza had been driving a 2025 Kia Seltos about 1 a.m. Saturday when the SUV was struck by a 2017 Kia sedan that failed to stop at the intersection of Railroad Avenue and Great East Neck Road in West Babylon, police said.

The sedan's driver, Michael Desmond, 33, of Lindenhurst, and a passenger in the Seltos, Riley Goot, a recent graduate of West Babylon High School, both died in the crash. Goot's funeral was held Thursday at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Babylon.

Trezza's brother, Austin, 18, also a recent West Babylon High graduate, remained in serious condition Thursday at Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip with multiple injuries.

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

Two other teens in the SUV were hospitalized after the crash with serious injuries but updates on their conditions were not available Thursday.

Family members said Bella had picked up her brother and friends from a party early Saturday and was driving them home at the time of the crash.

"Our Beautiful Bella crossed over to remain the angel she was on earth, forever," her parents wrote on Facebook. "Please keep our family and especially Austin in your prayers as he has a long recovery ahead."

Austin Trezza, a West Babylon volunteer firefighter, was pulled from the wreckage by his fellow firefighters after they responded to the crash, the fire department said. 

St. John school officials spoke with students Thursday about their classmate's death. 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."

The teen's family donated her organs Wednesday while she was hospitalized at Good Samaritan.

Her family authorized the donation to the national transplant waitlist to save additional lives, said Leonard Achan, president of LiveOnNY, the Long Island City-based nonprofit that matches donors with the federal organ transplant list.

"At this moment, LiveOnNY is working with the medical and transplant community to ensure that the wishes of Bella’s family are honored," Achan said. "LiveOnNY is humbled to be the stewards of Bella’s precious gifts of life."

At Goot's funeral Thursday in Babylon, family and friends gathered inside the Carll Avenue Catholic church. Outside, blue and yellow ribbons, the team colors for West Babylon High, lined the street to honor Goot, a 2024 graduate.

His coffin was blessed with holy water and covered in a white funeral pall shroud by his family and friends, who acted as pallbearers.

Msgr. Richard Figliozzi offered comfort to mourners, and also prayers for others affected by the crash and Goot's untimely death.

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

Figliozzi noted the stillness of the room before 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," the monsignor 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."

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.