Incident location, Long Island
Anthony Romeo Gestone, a 23-year-old Farmingdale man, was taken off life support Wednesday night at Nassau University Medical Center after neurological tests determined he had no brain activity, according to his uncle Joseph Hauser. Gestone had remained in a coma since a single-vehicle crash on Wantagh State Parkway nearly three weeks earlier. He was removed from life support at 8:19 p.m. on April 29, 2026, following a court-ordered timeline that gave his family 24 hours to arrange his transfer to another medical facility.
The tragic conclusion came after Gestone’s family was unable to secure his transport to an alternative care facility by the court-mandated deadline of 5 p.m. Wednesday. Under an agreement reached Tuesday in Nassau County State Supreme Court in Mineola, the family had until that time to facilitate the move, which would have been arranged, funded and implemented exclusively by the Gestones, according to a court order signed by Supreme Court Justice Donald X. Clavin Jr. When the transfer could not be completed, Nassau University Medical Center was permitted to conduct neurological tests that the family had previously fought to prevent.
The original crash occurred on April 9 when Gestone was driving south on Wantagh State Parkway and crossed over the center median into the northbound lanes, striking a tree, according to family and friends. First responders extricated Gestone from the vehicle and rushed him to NUMC, a public hospital with a Level 1 trauma center. Surgeons immediately removed part of his skull and diagnosed him with a traumatic brain injury. Dr. Ryan Senese, a trauma surgeon treating Gestone, documented in an April 28 affidavit that the young man sustained intracranial bleeding, brain swelling, and the midline of his brain shifted “massively.” Gestone also suffered spinal cord trauma and two collapsed lungs from the impact.
The family had originally planned to transport Gestone to New Beginnings, a Wading River nonprofit that provides long-term outpatient rehabilitation services to survivors of traumatic brain injury. However, Hauser said Wednesday that they determined New Beginnings was not a “viable option” while also expressing concern about whether his nephew was stable enough to survive transport. Allyson Scerri, founder of New Beginnings, did not respond to requests for comment. NUMC officials said they contacted more than a dozen medical facilities to explore potential transfer options for Gestone, but each facility declined to accept him.
On April 10, just one day after the crash, NUMC’s treatment team determined that Gestone met the criteria for neurological brain death and sought to conduct an apnea or brain perfusion test to verify that conclusion, according to medical records. However, Angelique Gestone, Anthony’s mother, objected to the tests, arguing they violated her religious beliefs as a devout Christian while also pleading for her son to have additional time to regain brain function. The family secured a temporary restraining order last week preventing NUMC from conducting the tests until Anthony was examined by a private neurologist. The results of that private examination were inconclusive, family members said.
While family members told Newsday they believed Gestone was showing signs of improvement, his doctors determined he had suffered irreversible brain damage. Once the court-mandated neurological tests were conducted Wednesday evening and confirmed no brain activity, the family was given one hour to pay their final respects before he was removed from life support, according to the court order. “Our thoughts are with the family during this profoundly difficult time,” the hospital said in a statement. “Over the past several weeks, we have witnessed their deep love and unwavering commitment to Anthony. We are grateful to the clinicians and staff at Nassau University Medical Center for their professionalism, compassion, and dedication in caring for him.”
On Wednesday evening, nearly two dozen of Gestone’s friends and family gathered in the parking lot of the East Meadow hospital to share stories and provide support to the family. “He’s always making everybody laugh, no matter the circumstance,” said Antonina Galasso, 23, of Massapequa Park, who had known Gestone since they both attended Weldon E. Howitt Middle School in Farmingdale. “He’s always focused on making everybody else in brighter spirits.” Heather Day, 21, of Farmingdale, echoed those sentiments: “He’s such a likable person. He would do anything to make anyone laugh.”
Location & Road Context
The fatal crash occurred on Wantagh State Parkway, a major north-south thoroughfare that runs through Nassau County and connects the Southern State Parkway to Jones Beach. The parkway is heavily traveled by Long Island residents, particularly during summer months when beachgoers use it to access Jones Beach State Park. The specific section where Gestone’s vehicle crossed the center median into oncoming traffic represents one of the more dangerous scenarios that can occur on divided highways, where head-on collisions with trees or other vehicles often result in severe injuries or fatalities.
Wantagh State Parkway, like other Long Island parkways, was constructed with concrete barriers and guardrails in many sections, though some areas still rely on grass medians to separate opposing traffic lanes. The crash highlights the potential consequences when vehicles leave their designated travel lanes on high-speed roadways.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
The court proceedings stemmed from a fundamental disagreement between the hospital’s medical team and Gestone’s family about when to conduct brain death testing. NUMC’s treatment team had determined as early as April 10 that Gestone met the criteria for neurological brain death, but his mother’s religious objections and hope for recovery led to legal intervention. The family’s attorney successfully obtained a temporary restraining order preventing the hospital from conducting the definitive tests until a private neurological examination could be performed.
The agreement reached in Nassau County State Supreme Court represented a compromise that gave the family one final opportunity to secure alternative care while setting a firm deadline for resolution. Justice Donald X. Clavin Jr.’s court order established the 24-hour window and specified that if the family could not arrange transport by 5 p.m. Wednesday, the hospital would be permitted to proceed with the brain death determination tests that medical staff had recommended for nearly three weeks.
Broader Impact
Gestone’s case illuminates the complex intersection of medical ethics, religious beliefs, and legal proceedings that can arise when families dispute brain death determinations. The oldest of four brothers, Gestone was described by friends as a “caretaker” and “protector” who had worked at his family’s window and door company since age 13, according to his grandfather William Hauser. Following studies in construction engineering technology at Alfred State College and an apprenticeship in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, he aspired to become an elevator mechanic.
The young man was an avid hiker who enjoyed horseback riding and attended First Baptist Church of Patchogue on Sundays, with dreams of becoming a husband and father, friends said. Galasso recalled how Gestone once gave her the flannel shirt off his back to keep her warm while walking through snow, exemplifying his caring nature. “He always looked out for his mom,” Galasso said. “Even with his friends, he was like a big brother. He was the person you could count on.” An online crowdfunding campaign established to help the family and cover mounting medical expenses has raised almost $110,000, demonstrating the community support surrounding the family during their ordeal.