Fundraiser For Families Of 3 Bethpage Crash Victims Reaches $20K

LEVITTOWN, NY — A fundraiser has been set up for the families of the three victims who were killed in a crash on Sunday in Bethpage.

Gino Vicale, 20 of Seaford; Vincent Cavaliere, 20 of Bethpage, and Nicholas Rivera, 20 of Queens; died when their car went into flames after hitting a tree, police said.

Briella Tomassetti, a reporter at Fox 5, created a GoFundMe page as the victims were her brother's friends from Plainedge High School.

"As a reporter, I have become all too skilled at masking the pain when I report on these stories. This time, it hit home. Hard," Tomassetti wrote. "Gino was class clown, Vin was a standout football star, and Nick was my brother Giovanni’s best friend who had gotten him through some of his roughest times."

The GoFundMe has received nearly $20,000 in fewer than 24 hours.

She added that Nicholas was hoping to start an mixed martial arts career.

Tomassetti said all money donated will go toward funeral and burial expenses.

Arrangements for Cavaliere are complete.

Visitation is scheduled on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. at the Thomas F. Dalton Funeral Home, 2786 Hempstead Turnpike, Levittown.

Mass of Christian Burial is Friday at 9:45 a.m. at the Maria Regina R.C. Church, 3945 Jerusalem Ave., Seaford.

A visitation for Rivera is Saturday from 4-8 p.m. at Fredrick J Chapey & Sons Funeral Home on 20 Hicksville Rd., Bethpage. A private cremation will follow.

The funeral for Vicale wil take place next week.