Emily Koutsoliontos, of Commack, killed in Florida car crash

A Long Island native celebrating a friend’s birthday was killed in a three-vehicle crash in Tampa, Florida, on Saturday, authorities and her family said.

Emily Koutsoliontos, 28, was a passenger in a Volkswagen Jetta slowing down for a red light at about 3:28 a.m. when it was struck by a Chrysler Pacifica at the intersection of North Dale Mabry Highway and West Spruce Street, Tampa police said Wednesday.

"The driver of the at-fault vehicle, a Chrysler Pacifica, failed to observe that a VW Jetta was slowing down for a red light," Tampa police said in an email.

The impact caused the Jetta to overturn. The Pacifica also struck a Chrysler Town and Country vehicle, which was already stopped at the light.

Koutsoliontos was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Police said two other people in the Jetta suffered injuries that were not life-threatening and they had been released from the hospital. A police spokesman said they are still investigating whether criminality was involved.

Michele Koutsoliontos, the victim's mother, said her daughter had moved from Long Island to Florida two years ago. She had worked as a nanny for a family and cared for their toddler for about a year.

Grace Koutsoliontos, the victim's sister, said she was “living her best life” in Florida and it had been a great decision.

“She loved kids and babies,” her mother said.

Emily Koutsoliontos grew up in Commack and graduated from Commack High School in 2013. The family moved to Bay Shore about five years ago.

She was close with her family and was best friends with her younger sister, "Gracie." Her older brother, Kevin Mulderrig, has three sons, whom she adored, Michele Koutsoliontos said.

“She literally called me four times a day to just talk nonsense,” her mother said.

Michele Koutsoliontos described her daughter as an old soul who enjoyed crocheting and knitting, and liked to go to bed early. She loved the Rangers, studied hair styling and beauty and was proud of her tattoos, her mother said.

“She had a smile that lit up every single room that she walked into,” Grace Koutsoliontos said.

Michele Koutsoliontos said her daughter normally didn't like to stay out late, but made an exception on Friday night to celebrate the friend’s birthday.

A funeral will be held at Christ The King R.C. Church in Commack on Friday at 10 a.m. Visitation will be at Branch Funeral Home of Commack from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday.

Koutsoliontos’ Florida friends who cannot attend the funeral plan to host a memorial dinner next week, the family said.

Michele Koutsoliontos said she last saw her daughter for Mother’s Day weekend in her new Tampa apartment.

“She planned everything for me. I got to meet a lot of her friends. That's a memory I'll never forget,” she said. “It’s devastating.”