Oakdale teen killed in Ronkonkoma crash

Eugene Franjola, 17, of Oakdale became the third teenager to die in a car accident on Ocean Avenue in Ronkonkoma in the last two years when his car was struck by an unlicensed driver, police said.

Stephen Massina, 16, of Sayville, a passenger in Franjola's car, was airlifted to Stony Brook University Medical Center where he was listed in critical condition yesterday after the Saturday night crash, officials said.

Massina is a Connetquot High School student, as was Franjola.

Police arrested David Heise, 28, of Mooney Pond Road in Selden, for driving with a revoked license. Heise pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charge at an arraignment Sundayat First District Court in Central Islip.

Franjola's death follows separate accidents that killed Jayson Giles, 18, in December 2008, and Stan Hartnett, 18, in July 2008, on Ocean Avenue. Hartnett and Giles were both 2008 Connetquot High graduates.

Giles lost control of his car and crashed into a pole on Ocean Avenue. Hartnett crashed into a tree at the corner of Ocean Avenue and Peconic Street.

Alan Groveman, superintendent of the Connetquot School District, said Connetquot schools have increased driver's safety courses in response to the accidents. Crisis counselors will be on hand to meet with students Monday, he said.

"It's a tragedy for the parents and we're all saddened by it," Groveman said.

Police said Heise drove a Dodge pickup truck westbound on Veterans Memorial Highway into the BMW Franjola was driving south on Ocean Avenue when the vehicles collided at 11:22 p.m. Saturday. Franjola was pronounced dead at Southside Hospital in Bay Shore.

Franjola had many friends and a younger brother, Stephen, who adored him, his family said Sunday.

Franjola's mother, Barbara Franjola, described her son as an outgoing boy and mentor to Stephen. "He liked to look good," said his mother. "And he did look good. He wanted to become a model."

Barbara Franjola said she wanted to give this message to Heise: "Life will never be the same for us. It will be a tremendous loss. . . . I hope he realizes what he has taken away from us."

Natalka Fallon, a Connetquot 11th grader, said she attended a party with Franjola and Massina on Saturday night and she and a friend took a ride home with them. Fallon said the boys dropped her and her friend off just before the accident.

Eugene "was always positive, always had a good time. He was the best person," she said.

Friends of Massina's who gathered Sunday said he was a member of the Connetquot wrestling team.

"He's hilarious, just a really good kid, he didn't deserve this," Fallon said.

Heise has been charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, police said. It will be up to the Suffolk district attorney's office to determine if Heise will face additional charges, police said.

Judge John Iliou told Heise he would set bail at $25,000 because of "the seriousness of these charges and your criminal history." Heise has pleaded guilty to at least six misdemeanors, including possession of a controlled substance and petty larceny, since 2004, records state.

Heise is due back for a court appearance in Central Islip on Thursday morning. His family members who attended the arraignment declined to comment.