A teenage girl from Hicksville was killed in an accident on Salisbury Park Drive, Westbury, last week, when the car in which she was riding struck a tree a few blocks south of Old Country Road.

As friends and family of 17-year-old Michele Lovastik mourned the death of the bright, athletically gifted girl, the local community was also deeply sorrowful, wondering how yet another fatal accident could occur on Salisbury Park Drive. The drive has been the subject of much controversy over the past few years due to its high rate of accidents, and last week's tragedy brings the number of deaths on the road to seven in the last five years.

The accident occurred at 8:35 p.m. on Sept. 2, when Lovastik was riding with a group of friends on the way to a party. The car, a 1995 Honda being driven by Katie Lupski, also 17 and from Hicksville, struck a tree, according to detectives from Nassau County Police Department's 3rd Precinct. The crash reportedly occurred after the driver crossed over the double-yellow line in the four lane section of the road, and lost control after trying to correct the situation. Neither drugs nor alcohol were involved in the collision, according to detectives, who said it was unclear whether speed was a factor.

Lovastik, who was riding in the front passenger seat, suffered fatal injuries and was transported to Nassau University Medical Center, East Meadow, where she was pronounced dead at 9:37 p.m. Lovastik had just graduated from Hicksville High School in May, where she was an honors student and hockey player, and was beginning her first year at SUNY Stony Brook, where she intended to study physical therapy. Lupski and rear passenger Steven Jaronczyk, of Westbury, were also transported to the medical center, to be treated for multiple injuries.

Residents who live near and along the curvy road, who have done much work over the years to try to improve traffic safety conditions, and increase driver awareness of dangers, were particularly somber over the tragedy. The Community Association of Stewart Avenue (CASA) has worked with the government of Nassau County to implement a 30 mile-per-hour speed limit throughout the length of the road, with the Nassau County Police Department to increase enforcement of the speed limit, and with the Town of Hempstead to improve signage. The East Meadow Civic and Community Service Association (EMCCA) organized a Traffic Safety Task Force to track accidents and make recommendations for safety improvements, following the October 2000 death of a young Westbury mother. And, EMCCA has criticized the county government for delays which have held up the release of an anticipated comprehensive study of the road, which is being done by the Department of Public Works.

Upon word of the accident, local community members expressed both sadness and frustration over the loss of yet another life on the road despite their efforts. "I really feel overwhelmingly sad about it," said Beverly Szimanski, president of CASA, expressing sympathy for the families of the young friends involved in the crash. "It's just so terrible. It's a terrible tragedy." She added that she planned to inquire with the Nassau County Traffic Department about whether a guard rail near the site of the accident would help prevent further, severe accidents. Local community members also indicated that they would continue to be vigilant to improve traffic safety conditions on the road.