Pearl River Mourns Teens' Deaths In Fiery Crash

PEARL RIVER, NY — A vigil was held Sunday evening at Pearl River High School to mourn one of the two teenagers killed in a fiery, multi-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon. The driver, also a PRHS student, is in critical condition.

School was closed for Columbus Day. Grief counselors will be available once students return Tuesday.

Route 304 and the Pascack Valley Line reopened Monday morning. However, sporadic delays may take place while follow-up investigations continue, Orangetown police said.

P0lice said a 2017 Porsche with three people inside plunged off Route 304 onto the New Jersey Transit train tracks at 3:25 p.m. in the vicinity of the Crooked Hill Road overpass in Pearl River. The car landed on the tracks and caught fire, Orangetown police said.

The Porsche was driven by Aisha Radoncic, 17, of Orangeburg. The other car involved in the crash was a 2013 Volkswagen driven by Nanuet resident Jason Castro.

There were two passengers in the Porsche, Saniha Cekic, 15, of Brooklyn, and Altin Nezaj, 17, of Pearl River.

Nezaj was taken to Nyack Montefiore Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Cekic was airlifted to Westchester Medical Center where she was pronounced dead. Radoncic was taken to Westchester Medical Center with serious injuries, Orangetown police said. Castro was uninjured.

Pearl River schools Superintendent Marco Pochintesta posted a letter to the community Sunday night on the website:

It is with great sadness that I share the news of the tragic loss of one of our Pearl River High School students with you. In addition, another passenger was killed and a second Pearl River High School student was critically injured in today's car accident on Route 304. When our school community experiences a tragedy, such as the loss of a young life, it impacts all of us. Our thoughts and prayers are with the students and their families and friends at this incredibly difficult time.

We have arranged for counselors to be available tomorrow, October 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pirates Cove at PRHS for any students and staff members who are in need of support. In addition, counselors will continue to be available at all of our other schools this week.

Every child is different and will process this news in his or her own way. You know your child better than anybody else. If you see that your child is grieving, please seek help from our counselors or another trained professional in our community.

Orangetown police are still investigating the crash. At the scene they were assisted by Clarkstown police, Metropolitan Transportation Authority police, New Jersey Transit Police and New York State Police.