Scott Letizia of Patchogue, who died after storefront car crash, recalled as volunteer with 'big heart'

A Patchogue man who died after his car barreled into a vacant village storefront early Monday was a dedicated volunteer with a "really big heart" who loved classic cars and helping his community, friends said Thursday.

Scott Letizia, 42, was "a super sweet guy" who gave his time to Angels of Long Island, a decade-old East Patchogue nonprofit that helps families in need through a food pantry and a thrift shop, said founder Debbie Loesch.

"He has a lot of friends in this community," Loesch, of Bellport, said. "He’d come and help us sort donations, he’d help put out food for the food pantry, whatever we needed him to do. He was kind to everybody. ... He had a really big heart."

Counted among his friends was Bill Schwegler, who met Letizia about eight years ago through their mutual love of classic cars. Over the years, Letizia, Schwegler and their car-loving crew, which included more friends and some of Letizia's family members, ventured to Fire Island and other spots across Long Island for Sunday car shows.

"He had a few beautiful Mustangs," said Schwegler, 35, also of Patchogue. "He was a kind, easy-to-talk-to, easygoing, working kind of guy that was just down to go for a drive, hang out, have a coffee, have a nice conversation."

Schwegler said Letizia worked in the meat department of a grocery store.

Letizia left for work around 5:30 a.m. Monday, according to Loesch, a lifelong friend of Letizia’s aunt from whom he recently purchased his home.

About a half-hour later, Loesch said, Letizia's wife, whom he married about a year ago, learned he'd crashed.

Police said Letizia was heading south on North Ocean Avenue in a 2017 Honda Accord at a "high rate of speed" when he crossed intersecting Main Street and slammed into a vacant storefront at 14 S. Ocean Ave., Newsday previously reported. The building held the nearly century-old Richard York of Patchogue Shoes before it shuttered last year.

Letizia was transported to NYU Langone Hospital — Suffolk in Patchogue in critical condition, police said. The Accord was impounded for a safety inspection.

Tuesday evening, Suffolk police announced Letizia had succumbed to his injuries. The police have not released additional information about the cause of the crash.

Video footage of the collision circulating on social media shows the Honda speeding through the Main Street intersection — narrowly missing a passenger bus — and striking the building.

Detectives ask anyone with information regarding the collision to call the Fifth Squad at 631-854-8552.