Cem Gunes, Taylor Beltramini and Landon Kromhout Auditore killed in Holtsville crash

Three teenagers were killed Wednesday night in Holtsville when their car left Nicolls Road and crashed into a wooded area, Suffolk police said. 

Cem Gunes, 16, of Holtsville, was driving north on Nicolls at Division Street in a 2009 Infinity G37 when the car crashed at 9:43 p.m., police said. Gunes was pronounced dead at the scene. 

His passengers, Taylor Beltramini, 17, of Moriches, and Landon Kromhout Auditore, 18, of Mastic, were also pronounced dead. 

Gunes’ girlfriend, Adriana Barrington, came to the scene of the crash Thursday morning as traffic sped past on the busy roadway. She gathered some of his belongings — including a shoe, homework assignments, an iPad, papers and a license plate — that had been strewn along the side of the road. 

“He was my boyfriend for four years,” said Adriana, 15. “He told me he would love me forever.” 

Witnesses told Suffolk police that the Infiniti appeared to be speeding north on Nicolls when it left the road into the trees, overturning multiple times, Insp. Darrell Simmons said Thursday afternoon during a news conference in Yaphank.

Gunes and Beltramini were ejected from the front two seats. Auditore was found inside the car. Simmons said it appeared that Gunes and Beltramini were not wearing seat belts. It was unclear if Auditore was wearing a seat belt. 

Police said they don't know where the teens were headed before the crash. Gunes was driving on a learner's permit, which would bar him from driving without the presence of a licensed motorist who is 21 or older.

"A learner's permit allows people to drive with a licensed driver, which at this point we do not believe was in the car," Simmons said. "He should not be driving."

Police are still investigating how fast the car was going and what caused the crash.

"Witnesses tried to assist in every way possible. It was a horrific accident and I'm sure they did everything they could," Simmons said.

Gunes was a student at Sachem East High School and Beltramini was a senior at the Floyd Academy who was scheduled to graduate in January, school officials said. Auditore was a senior at William Floyd High School who was set to graduate in June. 

“The district is deeply saddened to hear the tragic loss of one of our High School East students,” said Dr. Christopher Pellettieri, the Sachem superintendent of schools, in a statement. “The district has enacted our Crisis Intervention Team and support services will be available to students and staff as needed. We extend our most sincere condolences to all the families impacted by this devastating news.” 

“We have reached out to both families to offer any support that they need through this difficult time,” the William Floyd School District said in a statement. “Grief and crisis counselors are available for Floyd Academy and William Floyd High School students or any student across our district who has been affected by this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with their friends and families at this time.”

Adriana Barrington said she went to school at Sachem East on Thursday morning and friends asked her if she'd heard about the crash. She was then called to the office and sent home.

"I said, 'It's not real,'" she said. "We were supposed to spend Christmas break together and now he's gone."

Detectives ask anyone with information to call the Sixth Squad at 631-854-8652.

Simmons said it was difficult for detectives handling the case right before the holidays.

"It's terrible. We're all parents; we have young kids that drive," Simmons said. "It's an absolute tragedy, especially around Christmas." 

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misspelled Adriana Barrington's last name.