Jason Trinca's death brings grief counselors to school
An undated photo of Keri Trinca, back row, left, who was killed in a car crash along with her son Jason, seen here in the center wearing a hat. Her daughter Maria, in dress left, and her son Christopher, in the carrier in front, survived the crash. Jay, her husband and the children's father, is at right. Credit: Facebook
As Suffolk Police continued to investigate the cause of a crash that killed a mother and her young son, grief counselors were planning to be available for the boy's classmates Tuesday and friends and relatives made plans for a candlelight vigil Tuesday night.
Jason Trinca, 7, a second-grader at Eastport Elementary School, touched a lot of lives, said Eastport South Manor school district Superintendent Mark Nocero. Jason and his mother, Keri Trinca, 30, were killed Saturday when their car collided with a van that morning at a Manorville intersection.
He "was just a beautiful boy," Nocero said. "Everybody in the community is going to miss him dearly."
Nocero said the district sent out a message to parents over the weekend notifying them that grief counselors and psychologists will be at the school Tuesday and made available "for as long as needed" to staff, students and parents.
Jason's sister Maria, 4, who remains in the hospital, is enrolled in the school's pre-k program, he said.
Friends and family will hold a vigil for Keri and Jason Trinca Tuesday night at 6:30 at the family's home, said Trinca's cousin Danielle Chavez. "We want to celebrate her and life and Jason's life," Chavez said.
It was not clear if Jay Trinca, the husband and father of the two, will be at the vigil, since he is at Stony Brook University Medical Center, keeping watch over Maria and 2-year-old son Christopher. The children both remain in critical condition, but a hospital spokesman said their conditions are improving.
Trinca was driving -- with her children strapped in child safety seats in the backseat -- when, at about 8:25 a.m. Saturday, her car was struck by a van at the intersection of County Road 111 and Montauk Avenue, off Oceanview Boulevard. She was on her way to take Jason, a go-kart racer, to practice at Riverhead Raceway.
Trinca was pronounced dead at the scene and Jason was taken by ambulance to Peconic Bay Medical Center, where he died of his injuries.
Steven Vonfricken, 51, of St. James, the driver of the van, did not return calls Monday seeking comment.
No charges have been filed and police are still investigating the cause of the crash, said Suffolk County Sgt. James McGuiness. Investigators are asking anyone who may have witnessed the collision to call the Seventh Squad at 631-852-8752 or 800-220-TIPS.
Chavez said Jay Trinca is trying to be strong for his two younger children while they recover, but "he breaks down, of course.
"It's tough. His son's will and desire was to race. They lived at the track," Chavez said. "His son was his best friend."
'I'm going to try to avoid it' A trip to the emergency room in a Long Island hospital now averages nearly 4 hours, data shows. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.
'I'm going to try to avoid it' A trip to the emergency room in a Long Island hospital now averages nearly 4 hours, data shows. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.
