Tributes Pour In On GoFundMe For Men Killed In LIE Crash

NORTH HILLS, NY — Friends and co-workers mourned the loss of two delivery men, who were killed in a Long Island Expressway crash on Monday, in heartfelt written tributes posted with donations on a GoFundMe page set up to raise money for the men’s families on Tuesday.

The men, whose identities have not been released, worked for the Northport-based Top Shelf Provisions, which supplies Boar’s Head meats, according to the post. They were killed at about 5 a.m. when the box truck they were riding in on the Long Island Expressway crashed into an overpass for Shelter Rock Road in North Hills, Nassau County police said.

“Both men were loving fathers and valued members of the Top Shelf family. They will be deeply missed,” wrote page organizer Richard Dahlem, who donated $50,000 and encouraged anyone wishing to support the families to donate to the page. “Our thoughts are with the employees’ families and friends during this extraordinarily difficult time.”

Dahlem raised $211,890 — nearly three quarters of its goal of $300,000 — from over 250 people in the 22 hours since the page was created. The page has been shared almost 300 times.

Dahlem is the owner of Top Shelf Provisions, and he and his wife, Connie, are hoping to help the men’s families with their “devastating loss,” according to a Facebook post by the Louis J. Acompora Memorial Foundation.

A colleage from another distributor, Cape Fear Provisions, donated $1,300, writing that the team is mourning “the tragedy and wishes you our condolences.” Another contributor wrote: “You are in our prayers.” Yet another seemed to address the men personally, writing, “R, you were one of the nicest guys I've met doing this.”

The post refers to “R” as helpful and polite, adding, “and I loved talking to you to kill the time when it was slow.” The post goes on to address the second man as “C,” adding, “I was barely able to get to know you that well, but you always had that charm with you. You were a real professional and we all knew you were gonna go far in this business. We're gonna miss the both of you. Delivery day won't be the same without you guys. Rest easy.”

Detectives are asking that anyone who may have seen the crash contact Crime Stoppers, a confidential police hotline, at 1-800-244-TIPS, or call the Homicide Squad at 516-573-7788.