High school cancels finals after 3 teens hurt in Shoreham crash

A Shoreham-Wading River High School senior was in critical condition Friday night after a car crash that injured her and two classmates, prompting school officials to cancel final exams earlier in the day.

Melissa Marchese, 18, of Shoreham, remained at Stony Brook University Hospital after suffering serious head injuries Thursday evening when a driver who ran a red light broadsided the Hyundai Elantra where she was sitting in the back, Suffolk police said. A standout softball and basketball player for the Wildcats, Marchese had committed in December to play softball at the University of Hartford.

Marchese, the Hyundai driver Evan Flannery, 17, and passenger Caroline Tyburski, 18, all of Shoreham, were on their way to the high school for an honors ceremony, police said. Flannery and Tyburski were taken to St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson with non-life-threatening injuries, police said, while Marchese was airlifted.

Witnesses told investigators that the Hyundai, going south on Miller Avenue, was trying to turn left onto Route 25A when it was hit by a Honda Accord that ran through a red light as it traveled west on Route 25A, police said. The crash occurred around 6:50 p.m. Thursday.

The Honda driver, Michael Troiano, 34, of Ridge, was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Troiano told detectives that he took his eyes off the road for an instant when he was distracted by something in the car. Investigators checked his cellphone to determine if he was texting and administered drunken driving tests but did not find any criminality Thursday night, police said.

Both cars were impounded for safety checks.

Seventh Precinct detectives urge anyone with information to call them at 631-852-8752.

The three teenagers had just left home to go to the high school, where seniors were being honored, when the crash occurred, police said. 

Thursday was the last day of classes at the high school, according to the online school calendar, and the High School Senior Recognition Night ceremony was set for 7 p.m.

On Friday, Shoreham-Wading River School District Superintendent Gerard Poole said the high school was canceling finals for the day.

“There will be no negative impact on any student final grades as a result,” the district said in a statement. “Our hearts and thoughts are with the impacted students and their families. The district’s mental health team will be available in the high school library for student support today."