Family of Massapequa crash victims say emotion toll is 'just overwhelming'
Tasheba Hamilton-Huntley's husband and two of her children were killed in Sunday's crash. Three other members of her family still have a long road to recovery ahead of them.
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A Long Island family is dealing with the tragic results of Massapequa crash that killed three loved ones and left three others injured.
Tasheba Hamilton-Huntley's husband and two of her children were killed in Sunday's crash.
She says her daughter, Hannah, was an artist, blogger and wrote books. Her son, Jeremiah, was a video game blogger and had his own YouTube channel.
Hamilton-Huntley, a Navy veteran herself, says her husband Patrice Huntley was a U.S. Marine Corp veteran who worked with veterans for many years to help them with employment.
FURTHER COVERAGE: Former colleague: Victim in Massapequa crash was Marine who worked to help veterans
Three other members of her family still have a long road to recovery ahead of them.
Hamilton-Huntley's 6-year-old granddaughter, Chantel, underwent surgery at Cohen's Children's Medical Center on Thursday.
The grandmother says Chantel lost part of her spine in her cervical area, has brain swelling, broken arms and broken legs.
Her 18-year-old daughter Brienna has undergone three surgeries. Her 14-year-old son David is back home but still has to return for checkups for the injuries he sustained.
She tells News 12 Long Island that she does not know how she is functioning.
"The emotional toll is just overwhelming for our whole family," says Hamilton-Huntley. "I don't know how I am here talking. I don't know how I'm keeping myself together... I'm hoarse because I've been screaming and crying because this can't be real."
She also had a message to the 32-year-old Lindenhurst man who police say caused the accident.
“You have taken away my ability to ever see my children grow old, you have taken away their dad for the remaining children that are there,” says Hamilton-Huntley. “... I understand that you have a family too, but this is a very serious crime.”
Police have acknowledged that speed was a factor in the crash but no arrests have been made yet and the driver’s name has not been released.
Cohen’s Children Medical Center Cardiac ICU Medical Director Dr. Todd Sweberg says car crashes are the most common cause of trauma and death in children, and typically they are preventable by people driving responsibly.
To help the family, there is a GoFundMe to pay for burial expenses, medical care for the surviving children and possible legal fees.
