Mom, son killed in crash; 2 kids critical

A two-vehicle crash in Manorville Saturday claimed the lives of a mother and son and left the woman's two younger children clinging to life, Suffolk County police said.

The wreck, which one nurse who was at the scene called "the most horrible accident I have seen in my life," occurred very near the family's Manorville home in the Country Pointe neighborhood.

The sedan driven by Keri Trinca, 30, was apparently broadsided by a van at the intersection of County Road 111 and Montauk Avenue, off Oceanview Boulevard, Suffolk Det. Sgt. James McGuinness said. The investigation is continuing and no charges have been filed, he said.

Trinca was driving a 1998 Honda Accord with her children in the backseat when she entered the intersection about 8:25 a.m., police said. The sedan was struck by a 2002 Ford E350 van headed south on County Road 111, where the posted speed limit is 55 mph.

Trinca was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Her 7-year-old son Jason was taken by ambulance to Peconic Bay Medical Center, where he died of his injuries, police said.

Trinca's 4-year-old daughter Maria and 2-year-old son Christopher were taken by helicopter to Stony Brook University Medical Center. A hospital spokesman said they remained in critical condition Saturday night.

Police said the driver of the van, Steven Vonfricken, 51, of St. James, and his passenger Edward James, 61, of Smithtown, were taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Taylor Adamo, 22, a nurse at Stony Brook, was driving home to Riverhead after working a night shift when she came upon the scene moments after the crash. It was gruesome, she said.

"There were no doors," Adamo said. "They were busted open, so you could see in."

The mother was dead and the three children, all wearing seat belts and in child safety seats, were "very critical," she said.

Adamo rushed to help, she said, and minutes later, a man whom police later identified as the father of the children saw the wreckage and became hysterical. "He was screaming, 'Someone take me to my children!' "

Laura Dellarocca, 48, said Jason Trinca was a student at Eastport Elementary School, where she is a teacher's aide. Dellarocca said Jason was an "adorable" boy. "I am sick about it," she said of his death.

At Stony Brook University Medical Center yesterday afternoon, distraught family members and friends gathered in the emergency room waiting area, waiting for word on the condition of Jason's siblings. Many wept uncontrollably. Others sat silent, heads buried in their hands.

A man who described himself as the family's great-uncle asked for privacy, citing the family's trauma. Close friends also declined to comment.

The Trincas' Oceanview Boulevard home was decorated for Halloween Saturday, with hanging scarecrows, smiling plastic pumpkins and a large spiderweb on the front window.

Several neighbors said they were too shocked to speak. Many gathered outside their homes to talk about the tragedy and hug one another.

"I can't stop thinking about it," said one resident, Rick Paolella. "It's like an earthquake just hit Country Pointe."

Paolella said efforts are under way to help the family. "We're hoping to put together a collection for them," he said. "Just something to let them know we're sharing in their sorrow."

Anybody who may have witnessed the crash is asked to call the Seventh Squad at 631-852-8752 or Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS.

With Robert Brodsky