he was only 17....

[The Mayor]

Never miss a day to tell your children you love them...remember when you were young and you thought nothing would ever happen to you...youth equals feeling invincible and as soon as I became a parent that scared the crap out of me...hug them, hold them and tell them you love them everyday.

 

[cakesnkids]

OMG, that is so sad.

 

[VioltePrincess]

the newspaper updated the story:

Student council head killed in crash
BY DENISE M. BONILLA
Newsday Staff Writer

October 7, 2006, 10:39 PM EDT


Hours before his school's homecoming game, the student council president at Half Hollow Hills High School West was killed early Saturday when he lost control of his car and crashed into a tree, police said.

Many of his friends and teachers learned the news of 17-year-old Jeffrey Spiegel's death as they prepared to celebrate at the afternoon game. "The students were visibly upset and everyone was crying," said Hills West head football coach Kyle Madden. "It was a terrible thing."

Spiegel was driving a 2007 Mazda west on the north service road of the Long Island Expressway when he crashed into a tree near Homewood Lane in Dix Hills, said Det. Sgt. Bruce Markgraf of Suffolk County's Second Squad. He was killed instantly, Markgraf said.

The car was found at 7 a.m. by workers, Markgraf said, but police believe the accident occurred around 4 a.m. The wet road conditions and excessive speed contributed to Spiegel losing control of the vehicle, Markgraf said. There is a slight curve and hill in the area where the crash occurred, he said.

Spiegel was on his way home to Melville, said his mother, who declined to give her name. A senior at Half Hollow Hills High School West, Spiegel excelled in academics as well as music and athletics, his mother said. He was a star goalie for his in-line hockey team, as well as an All-County clarinet player and a jazz guitarist.

"He was a quiet kid but he liked to do good things," his mother said. "He wanted to make an impact on people."

Spiegel was preparing for his college interviews, she said. A caring, compassionate person with blue eyes that shone "just like heaven," he will be missed by everyone who knew him, she said.

"I just can't believe I'm not going to be able to kiss him and hug him and hold him again," his mother said through tears.

Word of Spiegel's death spread through the bleachers at Saturday's homecoming game against Miller Place. Coaches learned of the crash after the game had started but kept players in the dark until the game was over out of fear high emotions could lead to injury on the field. The coaches took pains to shield the players from the news, even as the bleachers emptied.

"We didn't think it would be fair if the players found out the shocking news from a fan," Madden said. "So we kept them totally focused on the field of play and away from anything that was going on behind us."

A moment of silence was held for Spiegel during halftime -- while the players were ushered into the school -- and all postgame festivities, including the crowning of the king and queen, were postponed. "The kid was very popular and well liked," Madden said. "He had a ton of friends on the football team."

Police asked anyone with information to call 631-854-8252.

Staff writer Gregg Sarra contributed to this story.

 

[SplshMtnLvr28]

Oh my god, that's horrible. Especially on homecoming. That's awful.

 

[Pin Wizard]

I'm so sorry to hear this.

So they isolated the players and sent the rest of the kids home. Hmmm...seems that would get the players wondering!

Friday a coworker came back to the office after picking her daughter up after school. She was told a boy was actually beat up in a hallway, blood all over the place, police all over. SICKENING! And let's add a 16 or 17 year old that was shot and killed at the high school my son is zoned for. This is the school the realtor says "everyone wants their kids in." SICKENING! I'm ready to homeschool starting next year. What the heck is wrong with people????? Lock them up and throw away the key.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Yesterday we were out with a lady whose 17 year old son still has his driving permit, no license yet. I'm ready to follow that thinking! Just because a state says a kid can start driving at a certain age sure doesn't mean they're ready to handle it. Parents still need to use judgment for each child. I'd rather hear all the complaints about not having a license from my son than have something happen at such a young age.

 

[Forevryoung]

parents, hug your children.

I went to my daughters' high school today expecting to watch my girls in the homecoming festivities and have a pleasant day with my neighbors.

we had a lovely morning, filled with music -- our traditional homecoming parade.

and then, just as the game was getting under way, the word began to travel through the crowd.

one of the seniors, a nice young man who was president of the student executive council and played clarinet in the band, wasn't at the school...

he was driving home after last night's pep rally when he had an accident with his car. he was only 17.

the halftime festivities were cancelled. the band, the cheerleaders, the dance team...they were all sent home. the football players were kept isolated during halftime, so that they wouldn't fnd out -- we couldn't forfeit the game.

my daughters have known this young man since elementary school. they're both devastated.


and my sister reminded me...when the yong man was in 5th grade, he was in a show at the elementary school. he sang "I won't grow up" from Peter Pan.

and now he really won't.

OMG, small world, I read this post yesterday and thought "wow how sad".

Today my sister catches me on AIM and shows me an online article from the paper and says "you better see this"

This is my old high school! I graduated 4 years ago (2002) but I know the football coaches and staff and I went to many games there (and loved homecoming).

Wow wow wow ok

 

[VioltePrincess]

OMG, small world, I read this post yesterday and thought "wow how sad".

Today my sister catches me on AIM and shows me an online article from the paper and says "you better see this"

This is my old high school! I graduated 4 years ago (2002) but I know the football coaches and staff and I went to many games there (and loved homecoming).

Wow wow wow ok

small world.

my younger dd is on the Wranglerettes, all the girls on the team were in tears, some of them were out with Jeff after pep rally.

Dr. LoFrese says we'll do the homecoming stuff at the enxt home game.

 

[DawnCt1]

Yesterday we were out with a lady whose 17 year old son still has his driving permit, no license yet. I'm ready to follow that thinking! Just because a state says a kid can start driving at a certain age sure doesn't mean they're ready to handle it. Parents still need to use judgment for each child. I'd rather hear all the complaints about not having a license from my son than have something happen at such a young age.

I had read stats years ago that said if you can hold off a teen's drivers license until they are 17 years old, you reduce the chance of a fatal accident by almost 100%. No one in our house ever got their license until they were 17.5 years old. We have had a couple of fender benders but nothing too serious.

 

[kimisabella]

I read the article in the paper this morning, very sad.

 

[VioltePrincess]

http://www.newsday.com/sports/highs...t08,0,2760715.story?coll=ny-hsports-headlines

seems like we won the game:

High SchoolsH.H. HILLS WEST 35, MILLER PLACE 14
Tragedy casts pall over game
By GREGG SARRA
Newsday Staff Writer

October 8, 2006


It was Homecoming yesterday at Half Hollow Hills West High School. It was supposed to be a big day for celebrating football, school pride and the crowning of the school's King and Queen.

Instead it was a day of mourning.

The tragic passing of student council president Jeff Spiegel, who died early yesterday morning in a one-car accident, spread quickly throughout the capacity crowd in the football bleachers during Hills West's 35-14 victory over Miller Place in a Suffolk Division III game.

Assistant coach Tom Migliozzi was the first to be told of the terrible news. He immediately relayed the information by headphones to the rest of the Hills West coaching staff midway through the second quarter.

"Under no circumstance did we want the players to find out what had happened [during the game]," Hills West head coach Kyle Madden said. "Football is an emotional game and we didn't want any one to lose their focus and get injured. We knew Jeff had a lot of close friends on the team."

At the end of the first half, Madden walked his team into the locker room. With the team away from the field the public-address announcer asked the remaining people in the crowd for a moment of silence.

When the team returned for the second half, school officials decided to cordon off the track area in front of the bleachers with security personnel and shelter the players from fans and family.

The postgame festivities to crown the King's Court were postponed until next week.

Madden gathered his team in the south end zone after the game and broke the news. Some players broke down and others were in disbelief.

"They were totally silent when I told them," said Madden, who has coached the Colts for seven years.

"We told them to stay strong and bond together to get through this. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do as a coach. It was just terrible."

H.H. HILLS WEST 35

MILLER PLACE 14

 

[VioltePrincess]

the funeral is tomorrow. Rabbi Gellman (yes, THAT Rabbi Gellman) will officiate:

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-lifune1009,0,2238752.story?coll=ny-top-headlines

Grief over death of student leader
BY JENNIFER SMITH
Newsday Staff Writer


Hundreds of mourners are expected tomorrow at a memorial service for Jeffrey Spiegel, the Half Hollow Hills High School West student council president who died in a car crash.

Spiegel, 17, was driving back to his home in Melville early Saturday when he lost control of his car and hit a tree.

News of the popular senior's death spread later that day among students at the high school's homecoming game, prompting administrators to cancel the remaining events that day.

Friends and classmates staged a candlelight vigil in the Half Hollow Hills West parking lot.

Last night, students gathered there again, said the school's principal, James Lo- Frese.

"It's one of those tragic things that affect the entire school," he said. "He had a warm smile, a wonderful heart. All the kids loved him."

Relatives and friends described Spiegel as a quiet, compassionate student with a flair for academics, athletics and music.

"He didn't do drugs, he didn't carouse," his stepfather, Paul Pugliese of Dix Hills, said during an emotional telephone interview yesterday.

Spiegel had moved out of Pugliese's house a week ago, he said, because he and Spiegel's mother were separating.

On Friday, Spiegel stopped by for an after-school visit.

"I hugged him, and I told him to take care of his mom," said Pugliese, 64.

And he reminded his stepson of eight years to take his prayer book, which Spiegel had left behind during the move.

"They found it next to the car," Pugliese said, his voice breaking.

Half Hollow Hills West students who wish to attend the memorial service tomorrow will be excused, but otherwise it will be a regular school day, LoFrese said.

Rabbi Marc Gellman is scheduled to speak at the service, which will be at 10 a.m. at Gutterman's Memorial Chapel in Woodbury.

 

[Freyja]

Last year a very beloved teacher at my S's school was killed going home from school on the Friday of Labor Day weekend. The admistration knew about the accident before the football game but they did not tell anyone until after the game. The football coach knew but kept it from the team so it didn't affect their performance. The teachers knew and started to tell the students after halftime. The football team weren't told until after the game.

I think that it was the right move. Flame away.

I agree!

OP: I am so sad to hear this. My bedt thoughts to all those affected.

 

[PaulaSue]

How Sad!

 

[VioltePrincess]

I'm finding myself preoccuppied with this...I didn't know Jeff, but ...

my older daughter will be 16 in a few weeks. we've had numerous discussions about teenage driving, whether she's allowed to ride in a car wihen one of her friends is driving, and what the rules will be when she gets her learner's permit next month. what happened to this young man is every parent's nightmare.

so tragic.

 

[crazymomof4]

Almost wish I hadn't read this. I am becoming very fearful of my DS17 getting his license on Dec. 12th. I wanted him to wait until he turned 18 to take his test but he and his father won out. Over the summer an aquaintance of his who just got his license 2 months prior wrapped his Honda around a tree. The car exploded into flames and the young man died.
My DS says my fears and worrying are taking the joy out of his getting his license, but I can't help myself. Everyone thinks something like this will never happen to their kid, but it DOES happen!
All I can do is tell him over and over not to speed. Most of these accidents involving young men seem to be due to loss of control bc. of excess speed. They think they will be able to handle the car no matter how fast they go!

 

[crazymomof4]

I had read stats years ago that said if you can hold off a teen's drivers license until they are 17 years old, you reduce the chance of a fatal accident by almost 100%. No one in our house ever got their license until they were 17.5 years old. We have had a couple of fender benders but nothing too serious.

That is encouraging! DS will be 17.5 if he passes his road test and gets his license in Dec. (I'm secretly hoping he fails) He will have had his permit for a full year. I am going to show him the articles about Jeff. I hope and pray that he learns from these tragedies!

 

[Patch'sD]

I didn't know Jeff, nor did my three children who attend or attended East. I pray for him and his family. It is a tragic event. I was dropping off my child for practice on Saturday Morning when I saw the Police Vans, and knew it was fatal accident.

My heart goes out to your two daughters and the rest of High School West community in losing what seems to be a great kid.

They Continued the Football Game and did not tell the players since they felt they would lose focus and could get injured. According to the Newsday Articles. They cancelled what they could, rescheduled what they could, and played a game that could not be made up. As soon as the game was over they told the players. I have nothing but praise for the way the adminstration handled things. I have listened to the principal LoFreze many times plead with parents about driving responsiblities and having to go through what he did on Saturday. This is not the first time this has happened in this district, hopefully it will be the last.

The 17 year old licensed drivers and 16 year old unlicensed drivers of this district have to slow down and drive more responsible. They are not unbreakable and invincilbe. Parents have to coral these kids in and teach better driving skills and not trust what they learned in Driver' Ed. There are so many kids in this district driving without a license and underage with High Performance Cars. Its like giving the kids a loaded gun The schools has got to do a better job in educating the drivers. Both of my sons went through it there and when they were done, I knew they could not drive. I had to work with them for months to make them learn the right way.

I went past the accident scene today, Kids where there leaving flowers, it was so sad.

 

[SeeDisney]

very sad and happens way too often amongst teenagers. Can't tell you how many times this happens -- the driving age needs to be raised.

 

[VioltePrincess]

I know Jeff had friends at High School East. it's a sad day for our whole community.

I haven't had occasion to drive past the accident site yet, but I know it's going to be emotionally painful.