Tribute Missing, Again, From Site Of Fatal Limo Crash

CUTCHOGUE, NY — A tribute set up to honor four young women who died in a devastating Cutchogue limo crash in 2015 is, once again, gone.

On Saturday, all that remained by the pole on Route 48 and Depot Lane were a few purple ribbons, a bracelet dedicated to the four women, and a plastic angel on the ground.

The pole was redecorated with a temporary memorial, including photographs, flowers, and painted rocks, in November after the original tribute at the location disappeared in October.

On Saturday, Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said both Southold Police Chief Martin Flatley and the Suffolk County Department of Public Works reported that they hadn't removed the tribute.

Southold Highway Superintendent Vincent Orlando said he had no idea about what had happened to the memorial. "I have no idea of who or why" the tribute was taken down, he said.

Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski said he would check with the DPW. "But it could have blown away with the recent weather," he said.

As the pole stood stripped of the hearts and memories, the families of the four women killed were outraged yet again.

"The families find this act malicious and a form of bullying," said Nancy DiMonte, whose daughter Joelle was seriously injured in the crash. "The memorial stayed in place for five years until our press conference on LABS Lane this past July."

LABS stands for the first letters of the names of the first names of the four young women who died: Lauren Baruch, 24, and Brittney Schulman, 23, both of Smithtown, Amy Grabina, 23, of Commack and Stephanie Belli, 23, of Kings Park.

The four were killed when their limo was T-boned by a red pickup truck driven by Steven Romeo of Southold at the intersection of County Road 48 and Depot Lane in Cutchogue on July 18, 2015.

DiMonte said the families were saddened that no green turning arrow or "no U-turn" signs were yet put up at the site. And she was livid that the photographs, "LABS" sign, painted rocks, and other mementos had disappeared.

"Whoever removed this could have had the decency to inform us rather than discard our personal items. This is shameful and underhanded!" she said.

Paul Shulman, whose daughter Brittney died, spoke out about the missing memorial: "The families of the Cutchogue limo crash are appalled at the insensitive and deliberate attempt to send a message to us," he said. "We are all very upset and angry."

In July, 2020, the first memorial still remained, with hearts written with the women's names, flowers, and purple ribbons adorning the pole.

"Our angels forever in heaven," the writing on one heart read. The base of the pole was covered with flowers, flags, photographs of the young women and other sentimental objects.

But suddenly, the pole and area below were stripped bare. And the first time, just as on Saturday, both town and county elected officials told Patch they had no idea how or when the items were removed. The new, temporary memorial was then re-erected in November; the plan was to design something more permanent, the parents said.

Three of the women died at the crash site and another died at a hospital. Four other women in the limo were hospitalized: Alicia Arundel, 23; Melissa Crai, 23; Joelle Dimonte, 25; and Olga Lipets, 24.

The driver of the limo, Carlos Pino, 58, of Bethpage, was also hurt in the crash. Romeo pleaded guilty to driving while ability impaired by alcohol, a traffic infraction, in 2017. The limo driver, Pino, was charged with criminally negligent homicide, failure to yield the right of way, and other charges, but Justice Fernando Camacho dismissed the indictment.

For years, the families of the women have advocated and supported legislation advancing limousine safety reforms.

In July, Bob Sullivan, the Cutchogue-based attorney for the four young women, unveiled ambulance records that he said indicated there was a new witness at the scene of the crash.