LI Community Rallies Behind Family Of Young Man Killed In Crash

BELLPORT, NY — A Long Island community is coming together to help the family of a 21-year-old man killed in a tragic car crash pay for his funeral expenses.

Demetrius Hall died on Thursday after the 2003 Honda Accord that he was traveling in on North Ocean Avenue veered into the northbound lane and collided with a truck, Suffolk County police said. In three hours on Friday, a GoFundMe page that was set up by Stacia Brown, raised over $9,500, about $7,000 over the intended fundraising goal of $2,500, with the help of over 210 donors.

Brown wrote that Hall was “unexpectedly killed” and that “any amount” of money will be “greatly appreciated.”

One woman wrote, “We are sorry for your loss! We send our condolences and love.”

Another wrote, “You are all in our thoughts and prayers! May God bless you and give you strength through this very difficult time. Xo”

A pair who donated wrote, “Fly high! We love you!!”

One woman on Patch’s comment section described Hall as “a hardworking young man.”

“Always a good kid with a nice smile,” she wrote, adding, “He was really good friends with my son for years. So so sad.”

Police said Hall was pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner, police said. The driver of the truck, Dennis Frame, 65, of Locust Valley, was transported to Long Island Community Hospital in East Patchogue with minor injuries, according to police.

The Honda was impounded for a safety check and the truck was inspected at the scene by the police department's Motor Carrier Safety Section, police said. Detectives from the 5th Squad are investigating the crash. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call 631-852-8552.

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