Two West Hempstead High School students succumbed to injuries and one is in critical condition at Nassau University Medical after a car the three students were in lost control on Thursday, April 10 at 11:47 a.m.

According to police, Herbert Martinez, 17, was driving a 2007 Mazda sedan northbound in the vicinity of 310 Nassau Boulevard at a "high rate of speed" when the vehicle lost control, striking a utility pole and a dumpster.

Police said the front passenger, 17-year-old Quinntin McDonald, was transported to Winthrop-University Hospital in critical condition with head trauma. McDonald succumbed to his injuries the next day.

The right rear passenger, Saul Hernandez Lopez, 17, was transported to Winthrop where he was pronounced dead at 12:15 p.m.

Martinez was air lifted by police to Nassau University Medical Center where he was listed in critical condition with head trauma. As of Tuesday afternoon, Martinez remained in critical condition in the pediatric intensive care unit at Nassau University Medical Center.

"This remains a difficult time for the entire West Hempstead community. We will continue to support our students with grief and guidance counselors, psychologists, social workers and clergy. These services will remain in place as long as the students may need them. We will also support our students' efforts to memorialize their friends," wrote superintendent of schools John Hogan on the district's website.

The students were out on a lunch break in accordance with the school's policy of letting students leave the campus. The tragedy has sparked a debate over whether students should be allowed to leave campus for lunch.

In January, Assemblyman Michael Gianaris of Queens introduced a bill that would prohibit high school students from leaving school in a motor vehicle during their lunch hour. Gianaris is now renewing his call to have the bill passed. "How many of our kids must die before we enact this sensible plan? We know that open campus policies put our students at greater risk. The time has come to ban this dangerous policy once and for all," he said.

Assemblyman Tom Alfano, whose district encompasses West Hempstead, supports the bill. Alfano said that when parents say goodbye to their children in the morning, they ought to have peace of mind that their children are going to a safe place and are going to stay there.

"This is an absolute tragedy for the West Hempstead community," Alfano said.

Funeral arrangements for Lopez were already held and for McDonald, they will be held on Saturday, April 19 at St. Paul's Church, 453 Pershing Boulevard in Rockville Centre, with a wake from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and a funeral service at noon at the church.

— Joe Rizza