A Freeport teen and an Elmont man have been identified as the two victims in two deadly crashes on the Meadowbrook State Parkway Wednesday night, according to state police.

Police say the first accident happened just before 7:30 p.m. on the northbound side between the Southern State and Hempstead Turnpike exits.

State police say 17-year-old Danyel Saint-Louis, from Freeport, struck the center median and his car came to rest on the shoulder. Police say two vehicles then stopped to help Saint-Louis when another vehicle struck two of the pedestrians and one of the parked cars.

A fifth vehicle then struck Saint-Louis, who was outside of his vehicle, according to state police. He died at the scene.

A total of five others were transported to a hospital with injuries, one of whom was deemed serious.

A second fatal crash happened just over an hour later on the southbound side between exits M7 and M8.

Police say a teenage driver traveling northbound lost control of their vehicle, crossed the median into the southbound lanes and hit a van head-on.

The driver of the van, identified as 70-year-old Jagdeo Ramdayal, of Elmont, died at the scene. Ramdayal's passenger was transported to a hospital with serious injuries.

Freeport Schools Superintendent Kishore Kuncham released a letter to families Thursday informing them of Saint-Louis' passing. Kuncham said Saint-Louis was a senior at Freeport High School and a star player on the school's basketball team.

"Danyel will be remembered as someone who was well liked with boundless energy and a positive attitude ... as a member of the Class of 2021, Danyel was planning to pursue a career in nursing and hoped to continue playing basketball in college," said Kuncham.

Loved ones and friends grieved the loss of Saint-Louis Thursday.

"I just want to wake up and hear him. He made my day better, he made my life better, he made everyone's life better," said Danyel's sister Anik. "You have to really make sure you hold your family tight. Life is just so random, things happen so quickly."

"Feels weird walking up these steps knowing he's not here anymore," says Keon Thomas, a family friend.

Danyel's brother Mike says he started playing basketball at a young age.

"He always went by what he said, he always did what he had to do, he was a very enthusiastic man," he says.

"Probably the best way we can honor him is whatever we choose to do in our life, not just on the basketball court, but with your family, academics, anything, is do your best," says Larry Steimer, Freeport's varsity boys basketball coach.

His family described him as a hardworking student who always made his teachers laugh. Danyel's aunt says he never got in trouble a day in his life.

"He was a brilliant child. And he was taken away from us too early," says Claudine Lubin, Danyel's aunt.