Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
Andrew Salgado, 14, of Miller Place, died Thursday after fighting for his life for more than a month following a devastating bicycle crash, Suffolk County police confirmed Friday. The North Country Road Middle School student succumated to injuries sustained when he collided with a truck while riding his bicycle along the shoulder of Route 25A in Miller Place on March 24.
According to police, Salgado was riding his bike along the shoulder of Route 25A when he collided with the side door of a truck that was merging into a turning lane. After striking the vehicle, Salgado fell from his bicycle and was run over by the truck’s rear passenger-side tires. The driver remained at the scene and called 911, police said. Salgado was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital in critical condition, where he remained hospitalized until his death on Thursday.
In an emotional Instagram post written as a letter to his brother, Joseph Salgado described Andrew as his “built-in best friend” and reflected on years of shared memories, from building stuffed animal forts to playing video games together. “You are the strongest kid I have ever met in my entire life,” Joseph wrote in the post. “You fought every second of every day and you don’t deserve this outcome.” The family could not be reached for comment by Newsday.
Alana Gomory, a physical education teacher at North Country Road Middle School, told Newsday that Salgado was an energetic and athletic kid who was a member of the district’s varsity soccer team and was “well liked” by his peers. “I’m so upset for everyone, for watching these kids lose their best friend, their classmate, someone they grew up with. It’s heartbreaking just to watch,” Gomory said. “It’s really been a tough month.”
The Miller Place community had rallied extensively around Salgado and his family since the March collision. Students and teachers wore blue ribbons and stickers featuring a soccer ball, a heart and Salgado’s jersey number, 44, during their recent class trip to Washington, D.C., according to Gomory. An online fundraiser started on behalf of Salgado’s family to support his medical care and related expenses has generated $120,805.
Superintendent Seth Lipshie said the district was “deeply saddened” by the loss and extended condolences to Salgado’s family and friends in a letter to the school community. “As a community, we are deeply affected by this loss, and we recognize the impact it has on our students, staff, and families,” Lipshie said in a statement to Newsday. “We are committed to supporting one another in the days ahead by providing counseling and support services. We ask that you keep the family and our school community in your thoughts. Together, we will honor the memory of Andrew with compassion and care.”
Location & Road Context
The crash occurred on Route 25A in Miller Place, a heavily traveled east-west corridor that serves as a main thoroughfare through the North Shore communities of Suffolk County. Route 25A connects multiple Long Island communities and experiences significant traffic volume, particularly during commuting hours and recreational travel periods.
The section of Route 25A where the crash occurred runs through a residential area of Miller Place, with the roadway featuring shoulders where cyclists commonly travel. The crash happened when the truck was merging into a turning lane, highlighting the complexity of traffic movements along this busy corridor.
Broader Impact
Visitation for Andrew Salgado is scheduled for Monday from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at Branch Funeral Home of Miller Place, according to his obituary. A funeral service will be held at St. Louis de Montfort R.C. Church in Sound Beach on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. The school district has committed to providing ongoing counseling and support services to help students, staff and families cope with the loss of the popular student-athlete who wore jersey number 44 for the varsity soccer team.