Families mourn victims of fatal crash in Holbrook

Family members were mourning the victims of a crash that killed a Shoreham man, an 11-year-old girl and a Deer Park man when his motorcycle struck an SUV Wednesday on Veterans Memorial Highway in Holbrook.

Suffolk County police said Alaaeldien Elfaham, 23, was driving a 2002 Honda motorcycle east on Veterans Memorial Highway about 1:20 p.m. Wednesday when a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox driven by Emanuel Dandrea, 74, of Shoreham turned in front of him from the westbound lanes at Coates Avenue.

Elfaham and Dandrea were declared dead at the scene. An 11-year-old girl riding in the Equinox, Alanna Lika, and an unidentified 8-year-old girl also in the Equinox were taken by ambulance to Stony Brook University Hospital, where Alanna died from her injuries. The 8-year-old girl suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Dandrea's and Alanna's family declined to comment Thursday at their Holbrook home, where the driveway was marked with what appeared to be children's chalk drawings.

Essam Elfaham, 62, of Wichita, Kansas, said he learned of his son’s death Wednesday and he was traveling to New York for funeral services.

He said Alaaeldien Elfaham was set to turn 24 next week and just got his motorcycle operator's license two days earlier.

“I called my youngest son, who was crying and he said, 'My brother is dead,' ” Essam Elfaham said. “I’m in shock and couldn’t believe it.”

He said his son was the second youngest of five children and grew up in Mastic Beach. He said he graduated from Huntington High School and later completed a course as an auto technician.

Essam Elfaham said his son was renting an apartment in Holbrook and had just called to tell him he got a motorcycle. “I told him to not get a bike. He didn’t listen, that’s his destiny. No matter what you do, that’s God’s plan,” he said. “He had so much to do and he stopped right there."

Police had no further updates about their investigation into the crash.

Sachem Central Schools Superintendent Christopher Pellettieri said Seneca Middle School, which Alanna attended, was on spring break, but counselors would be at schools next week.

“The district is saddened to learn about the tragic loss of one of our Seneca Middle School students,” Pellettieri said in a statement. “Support services will be made available when schools reopen from spring break next week. We extend our thoughts and prayers to the individual’s family and loved ones during this very difficult time.”

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.