Crash Victim Released from Hospital; Family Thanks Community For Support

Christopher Trinca, the 2-year-old boy who was injured in the was released from Stony Brook University Children's Hospital, officials announced on Friday afternoon.

Christopher and his 4-year-old sister, Marialena, were seriously injured on Oct. 8 when the car their mother, Keri, was driving was broadsided by a van at the intersection of Country Road 111 and Oceanview Boulevard. Keri was pronounced dead at the scene while her son Jason was transported to  and later succumbed to his injuries.

Jason was an award-winning go-kart racer at  who won Rookie of the Year honors in 2009 and the Kid Kart Championship in 2010. Police are still investigating the crash and charges have not been filed.

Marialena remains medically sedated in serious condition, said Margaret Parker, Director of the hospital's Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

"Maria is improving but she has a way to go," Parker said.

Trinca's husband Jason, family and friends thanked the in the wake of their tragedy. Jason, wearing a t-shirt to honor the memory of his wife and son that read "2 Hearts, 2 Lives, 2 Soon," was visibly shaken and barely held back tears as he read from a prepared statement.

"Thank you to all those who have organized the ," he said. "Without the constant support of my family and friends I'm not sure I would be dealing with this right now." Trinca also thanked the EMT and ambulance teams who responded to the crash to help his wife and children.

"I would like to show you what all the positive thoughts and prayers can do to make a miracle happen," Trinca said as he called for his son, Christopher, who walked hesitantly to his father. Family and friends cried and cheered as they hugged.

Clutching his son in his arms, Trinca continued, "Although Christopher's recovery is a miracle, we still need your strength, thoughts and prayers for my daughter, Marialena, my 'little fresh.' All I can say is thank you, but I must now go back up to my daughter who drastically needs me."

Keri Trinca's cousins, Danielle Chavez and Jaclyn Urso, of Mastic and Beaufort, S.C. respectively, described their cousin as a woman who "always smiled" and was "born to be a mother." Both thanked the community for organizing fundraisers and memorials for the crash victims.

"Words can't describe how much the community has stepped up," Urso said.

"We can't thank people enough," Danielle added. "You can say thank you but it's just two words. It's never enough."

The Trincas' funeral is planned for Monday at 10:45 at St. John the Evangelist in Center Moriches. Services for Keri and Jason will be held at the Maloney Funeral Home at 132 Ronkonkoma Avenue, in Lake Ronkonkoma on Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. 

In lieu of flowers, the family ask that donations be sent to the Trinca Family Memorial Trust at PO Box 520, Ridge, N.Y. 11961.