Bethpage-Tribune_1991-01-17

              ^ YOUR OFFICIAL HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER
Serving Bethpage, Island Trees, Ploinedge, Seaford, Old Bethpage and Plainview
VOL. 24 NO. 8 Celebrating Our 24 Year January 17-23, 1991 Celebrating Our 24 Year 25 CENTS
A Tragic Train Accident
Claims Two Lives and
Critically Injures Youth
In Bethpage
by Linda Antonelli
Friday night, January 11, I was
eating dinner when I received a call
informing me of a train accident on
Stewart Avenue in Bethpage. I quickly
grabbed my coat and keys and of
course my pad and camera and headed
for the scene of the accident.
When I arrived at the train station,
I joined a crowd of onlookers rescue
workers, firemen and policemen who
were all trying to deal with the
situation at hand, while having to
brave the bitter cold winds and snow,
I maneuvered my way to the railroad
crossing to try and find out what had
actually happened and perhaps take
a picture of the accident. When I gazed
upon the wreckage and the smoking,
half melted car which was now
virtually cut in two, 1 closed the
shutter on my camera and put it in
my snow covered jacket pocket along
with my pad and any ideas I had had
of doing an indepth report of this
tragic accident.
I JUST COULDNT DO IT! This
accident was so tragic, so utterly
devasting that anyone who didn't have
to see it-shouldn't. Why this accident
was so different I didn't know. We
reported the tragedy of the Avianca
crash which took 73 lives and that was
a true disaster, but this was different.
Four victims of a sixty mile per hour
express train with the only survivor
being a young girl in critical condition.
Just the sight of the wreckage was
bone chilling and frightening. I
couldn't imagine the fright that they
must have gone through.
I stepped away from the tracks and
just gazed at the rescue workers,
firemen and police officers battling the
high winds and cold while trying to
remove the wreckage from the still
active third rail. As always the entire
rescue effort was amazing and impres­sive.
Although one could see the look
of horror on each and every rescue
workers face as it was quite obvious
that they too were shaken from this
accident.
I left the area and went inside of
the office to warm up and de-ice my
feet. Before I left I took one last look
outside our two story window. The
rescue workers were still going strong
trying to clean up the site and a brite
blinding light was now shining on the
wreckage so that a reporter could take
some pictures and report the event.
1 looked down at his camera flash
brightly blinking and realized that it
was his or her job and that it was
something he or she had to do. But
it was at that time that 1 realized how
glad I was that I didn't have td.
My heartfeh sympathy to the family
and friends of those who tragically lost
their lives in that accident. My
thoughts and prayers are with that
young lady who survived the accident.
Dear Editor:
On January 8 1991, our agency, PFOP! R of Bethpage, hosted a symposium
on Driving While Intoxicated entitled: DWl: "A Dance With Death''. It wa.s
held in the Bethpage Public Fibrary
As I scanned the auditorium and saw row upon row of empty scats, a '
tremendous feeling of defeat had fallen over me: How could this have happened? \
Where are all the people? After all, hadn't I done everything in my power ;
to publicize the event? Hadn't this very publication, the Bethpage Iribune, i
published no less than four announcements highlighting this most important j
issue? Hadn't we sent out hundreds of letters, distributed thousands of ilyers.
made announcements at numerous community events? Hadn't the newsletter
of our very library gone to every Bethpage citizen? Where did I go wrong?
As the evehirig evolved, my disappointment shortly gave way to a surge
of pride at the selfless contributions of this esteemed panel. I was touched
by their consummate professionalism in the face of apathy. I was touched
by Marvin Strow, from F.F MADD, who had told me before the night began.
Don't worry Bob, if we reach one person the evening will have been a success'.
By Mr. Strow's sharing of very personal, and very real, life events. By the
Honorable Justice Kenneth Diamond's (former Town of Oyster Bay
Councilman) incisive interpretations of the law which he then communicated
to we lay people with ease. By Dennis Favalle, S lOP-DWl coordinator for
Nassau County, at his firm but fair treatment of DWI offenders. By Denise
Savino, president of our own Bethpage High School's Students Against Driving
Drunk, By Salvatore Fazio, Mental Health Consultant of Nasau County
Probation Department, as he voiced his commitment to both the treatment
and criminal justice spheres, a difficult and delicate balancing act indeed.
By our own Dennis Brady, who showed both his compassion and concern
as a representative of the community. By Paul Schatzel, FAP coordinator
for Grumman, Inc. who effortlessly explained how the DWI issue manifests
(Co n t in tied o n page 15)
God Bless
Brave Men and Women
in the Middle East
as we pray for a speedy
calming to the Desert Storm. Although this picture would give one the impression that a large crowd
attended the Jan. 8 symposium, in actuality only about 25 residents
participated.