Family of Patchogue man killed in Bethpage State Parkway head-on crash plans to sue NYS

The family of a Patchogue man killed in a head-on collision on the Bethpage State Parkway in June plans to file a wrongful-death suit against the state, citing the lack of barriers or guardrails along the roadway, records show.

Mike Della, a Ronkonkoma attorney representing Viviane and Steve St. Fort Colin, the parents of Jordan St. Fort Colin, who was killed in the June 12 crash, filed a notice of claim — a notification of the intention to sue — against the state on Monday. The notice said the family had suffered damages not exceeding $50 million.

In an interview on Tuesday, Della said the state had known for years that the two-lane parkway, which has no dividers to separate oncoming traffic, was dangerous to motorists but failed to install proper signage or safety measures such as median barriers, centerline rumble strips or speed bumps or breakers.

"Anyone who has ever driven on this roadway knows that you have to be really aware of the fact that at any moment someone can cross over and crash into you," said Della, adding that he hopes the suit prompts the state to erect a barrier on the road. "This is a very dangerous road. And I believe that the state knew about it for decades and did nothing to correct it."

The State Department of Transportation declined to comment on the suit, citing the pending litigation while the State Attorney General's Office did not respond to a request for comment.

St. Fort Colin, 23, was behind the wheel of a 2012 Nissan Altima around 9:30 a.m. when the driver of a Hyundai Sonata crossed over the yellow double line and smashed into him on the northbound parkway between Exits B1 and B2, State Police said at the time. There were no passengers in either vehicle.

The Sonata driver, whom police have not identified, was taken to a hospital with serious injuries but survived.

A state police spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment about the cause of the crash or the identification and condition of the Sonata driver.

Wrestling dreams

Viviane St. Fort Colin, also of Patchogue, said her son was a careful and studious driver who did nothing to cause the crash.

"No family should have to ever go through this," she said on Tuesday. "No one should have to ever think that their child or loved one isn't going to come home because the state has failed to do what it should do in instances like this."

Jordan St. Fort Colin, a Bellport High School and Suffolk County Community College graduate, was known as "Black Flash" Jordan Saint on the independent professional wrestling circuit.

He had only recently returned from a break to complete his education at the time of the crash and had dreams of making it in the World Wrestling Entertainment, or WWE, or in All Elite Wrestling, the nation's top two promotions, his mother said.

"Jordan was really passionate about everything he did," she said. "But his love of wrestling went beyond."

The St. Fort Colin family are not the only ones recommending safety changes for the parkway.

A Change.org petition to install guardrails along the 2.49 mile parkway garnered more than 2,600 signatures in less than two months.

Lori Zebro, who has lived in Massapequa for 33 years and who started the petition with her daughter, Kayla Zebro, said she felt compelled to do something to spark change when she learned about the latest crash. Zebro does not know the St. Fort Colin family.

"Maybe if there was a barrier on the parkway that day," Lori Zebro said, "he wouldn't have lost his life."